Pear-shaped Men
77
Why I chose to write about such a seemingly random topic
Last week I read a book called Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs. For those who like crime, CSI, thrillers, etc, I can recommend Kathy Reichs very highly. Okay, I know some of you are quite shocked to hear that Cindy Vine reads books. Actually, I am an avid reader, but I have an inability to read crap, so if I say an author is good, then believe it. Moving along, in Bare Bones, Kathy Reichs's main protaganist is a forensic anthropologist who studies skeletal human remains to find out who they were and how they died. In this novel, she found a skulless handless skeleton and had to decide whether or not it was male or female. The usual tests were inconclusive. It was either a male of medium height or a female with very long legs. To cut a long story short, other evidence came along and it turned out that it was a male with Klinefelter's Syndrome. Although the author gave a brief description of what the hell Klinefelter's Syndrome was, it didn't satisfy my curiosity enough as I am one curious mother.
I decided to investigate and do a little research and what I found was pretty interesting. In fact, it was so interesting, that I thought I'd share it with other curious people out there who, like me, collect random titbits of knowledge about random things that will have no actual effect on your quality of life. Why do I need to know, because it's there. And also, the next time I see a pear-shaped man, I can go, aha!
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Klinefelter's Syndrome - What it is?
Basically, Klinefelter's Syndrome occurs when a man has an extra chromosome and the pattern is XXY. Instead of having 46 chromosomes, including one copy of each of the sex chromosomes, X and Y, the normal complement for a boy, each cell of someone with Klinefelter's has 47 chromosomes, with two X's and one Y, a genetic abnormality. Surprisingly, it is one of the most common genetic abnormalities in males occuring in one out of every 500-1000 male births. Two thirds of men who have it, live out their lives never knowing they have it and it is one of the leading causes of male infertility.
The syndrome was first identified in 1942 by Dr. Harry Klinefelter and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Symptoms of the syndrome are small testicles, small penis, man boobs, long legs, pear-shaped body, very little body or facial hair, inability to produce sperm, decreasing libido after age 25, low muscle mass, tendency to be overweight and an increased risk of diabetes and osteoporosis. Of course, some men with Klinefelter's Syndrome only present a couple of the symptoms and for the rest appear quite normal. That's why it can go undetected their whole life.
While boys with Kliefelter's Syndrome are not intellectually impaired, they are prone to learning disabilities like dyslexia, delayed speech and motor development, and difficulties in grasping abstract concepts and problem solving. Depression, difficulty following through on goals, unusual fatigue and sudden mood swings also often occur in XXY men and boys.
Many of the symptoms only show after puberty or age 15 when the low testosterone levels can have an adverse effect on their manliness.
Klinefelter's Syndrome - Treatment
Okay boys, don't get your hopes up, there is actually no cure. But, if detected early enough, you can be given testosterone injections which will reduce the effects and symptoms. This results in increased masculinity, strength, libido, bone mineral density and body hair. It also has a positive effect on mood and behavior, improves goal-directed thinking and self-esteem and reduces fatigue and irritability. Now if those symptoms are because of an extra female chromosome, maybe you can understand why women can sometimes be moody. It's genetically programmed in us, nothing any therapist can do to change it.
If you take testosterone replacements and you still have man boobs, they advise you to get the fatty breasts removed surgically. While the testosterone might make you horny like the other males on the planet, unfortunately it won't affect your fertility. Your sperm will still not be viable. However a controversial IVF technique known as ICSI has been used with great success. They remove immature sperm from the testes, choose the most viable looking ones and inject them directly into the women's eggs, so there is hope that men with Klinfelter's Syndrome can father their own children with medical intervention. See, nothing is beyond hope. Isn't technology marvellous?
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CommentsLoading...
Well then you must be psychic!
OMIGOD I'm surrounded by pear-shaped psycho psychics!
Well, maybe we need to send all the loonies to a small island somewhere in the pacific near Australia.
You mean near NZ, right? Why don't you make it NZ then? :)
Oh God Cindy don't send them near here....ooo..send them out Ethiopia way...better still Simpsons Desert.
That was really interesting Hub Cindy I am actually thinking now I know someone who might have this...would never have blinked an eye before
Blonde, did you know Jack Black has a pear shaped body?
Hey BC we can get cable installed anywhere no worries, just get a satellite dish and steal it from somewhere. All cable in China is stolen from the Philippines. Poor Cris has to pay extra so we can get it for free lol
Jack Black fair dinkum Cindy....so I guess he has no kids???
Don't think so, maybe he's on testosterone injections as he is quite hairy, but he does have largish man boobs as well.
I swear my best friend has all these signs but they managed to have one daughter, they have been trying again for 4 years but can't make anymore but he definetely has every single thing you described..mmm..makes me think...
yeah, if there are immature sperm in the testes, then who knows, maybe every now and then one escapes...does the daughter look like him?
Blonde is off to bed, she's shagged out after crashing a car into a beauty salon and getting her hair done. You want a good laugh BC, check all the comments you missed on the Wanted hub. Man, Blonde's been planning some activities there with the captain Sparrow in his absence!
lol BC
Mangogirl: You are a bit cocky for being so new, I would recommend you dry behind your ears before commenting as your arrogance will definitely get you into trouble.
Cindy this was very interesting and even though I am a nurse I didn't know anything about this syndrome at all. Greatr read !!:)
Yeah AE I found it very interesting as well as I'd never heard of it until I read about it in a crime book.
Very interesting! I shall avoid pear shaped men and check out the author, learn something new every day!
Hi Gypsy, I always like to go to sleep at night knowing I have learnt something new.
great hub cindy! I have seen men like this, I got detention in sixth grade becuase I told my gym teacher ne needed a bra. I bet he didn't know why either!
dori
Hey Cindy! Good hub! Son got skype going, finally. Did you get my mail? Any thots?
Fortunerep, I know what you're saying, now I know about this syndrome I start to think about guys at school with no facial hair and wide hips....
Candie, thanks, yep got your mail and I think maybe give him some space. He has lots of issues to work out, has to find a boobsling for his manboobs amongst other things!
Very interesting hub, Cindy! I think I know someone that fits the description as well!
Will do, you are a huge hoot, love ya lots!
Candie, luvya to girl! Now follow my advice!
KCC, if there is 1 out of every 1000 and how many males in the US, there could be plenty out there!
Now I know why I have always avoided pear shaped men!
I will, mooooom!
lol Candie
Marilyn, have to say I have always found pear shaped men to be a major turn off
Well...no worries for me on this one. Skype???..gotta get mine up and running today.
Hey Blue howya doing? Quarter past 11pm here and am off to bed. Just made school lunches for tomorrow so feel very domesticated. Okay, so it was leftover Chinese take aways from dinner tonight I put into disposable containers. Sheesh!
Hey Sin...yeah...been real busy...going to try to catch up with you in the morning...pleasant dreams.
I discreetly studied my friend today mentally ticking the things you mentioned here. However I cannot say to him have you got a little weiner though, LMAO, but I would say so with everything else proving positive...he is a great guy though..
BP, I don't think it makes them bad people at all, just maybe more in touch with their feminine side, and you know what, I guess you love the person for who they are even if they have manboobs and a small weiner.
I agree totally.
Not sure I could live with the small weiner though...
That why you make large sausages??
My sausages are not large, just the normal size for sausages, you probably buy yours that have been linked and then cut, but they would all be long when made, lol
"Depression, difficulty following through on goals, unusual fatigue and sudden mood swings also often occur in XXY men and boys."
Sigh... ;P Luckily, I don't exhibit most of the outward signs, got plenty of testosterone flowing.
And now, my name, will actually make sense to many.
In Lightspeed,
lxxy
Hi Ixxy, so have you been officially diagnosed?
No, costs lots of $ but all the signs are there. At this point in my life, I really don't care what it is I've got on my hands; I'm just me. A me that can't reproduce, but a me none-the-less.
When genetic testing becomes much more viable and cheap, I'll take the bait. Or not. Again, all the signs are there--and it started with the birth of a 1 lbs 13 oz kid who's mother was trying to kill it before it got out of the womb. ;)
The only thing I'll ever officially claim to be is full of it. ;D
But in all seriousness, given the hours I've scoured on this subject I'm 99.9% sure.
Jeez Ixxy, is genetic testing expensive? I don't know anything about the costs. Just read about this syndrome in a book and was intrigued and wanted to know more
To give you an idea, there's a company out there that will test your genetics against known patterns that seem to cause alzheimers. It's not a fool proof thing, and you'll never know if its true or not until it begins to happen.
The cost? Over a thousand dollars, and of course, not an insurance write off.
Jeez, and you don't get free health care eh? In NZ it would all be free.
Haha, no m'am, I reside in Amerika. We might get that free health care thing, but I'm no advocate of the idea. My government can barely keep it's self running, much less anything else. ;)
Hope they'll do something about the health care situation. That should be the first priority.
Good morning Cindyvine.
As I entered this web site, I noticed the color cartoon drawing of the apple-shaped obese male in the green strip T-shirt and the little red shorts, the huge belly, small butt, and skinny legs, and the pear-shaped obese guy in the blue shirt and great big red shorts.
Well, that drawing, I'm proud to say, is one of my many creations. I have created many fat cartoon drawings.
So, go ahead and feel free to use it!
I'm pleasantly surprised, and flattered, that one of my many drawings showed up in another web site.
I just wanted everybody here to know, that I'm the creator of that particular drawing.
I would like to see a few comments on what you all think of it.
Thank you.
Fatman, I think it's a great cartoon, that's why I used it and I am happy to announce to the world that you are the creator! Are you a professional cartoonist?
I also knew nothing of this subject..kfs,until a few months ago. I met a wonderful man with this syndrome,who is definately "all man". He is the kindest person i have ever met,and probably the most tallest/talented/interesting/intelligent gentleman ive ever known.
Helen, you sound like you have found a keeper!
I don't find it very funny for some of u guys to make fun of people who has this. I found out a year ago that my 3 year old has it. And not a day goes by that I don't worry how this is going to affect him as he gets older. Next time try to be alittle more sensitive please
Sorry to hear that Christine, but this article was more about making people aware of this syndrome than poking fun.
After reading this I just wanted to point out that not every pear shaped man has klinefelter's syndrome. What defines a man's body shape is mainly his bone structure and of course his diet/exercise. Some men have wide hips although most men's hips are narrow. This is known an "endomorph". They are generally men who have tendency's to gain weight easier, have big thighs, and are born with hips as wide as their shoulders. This in no way affects their ability to conceive, their body hair, or overall testosterone level. Although some pear shaped men actually do have klinefelter's syndrome, almost 99% of them are endomorphs. That's why famous celebrities such as Jack Black and Robin Williams have pear shaped bodies and are still able to have children. Plus they're both as hairy as gorillas. Some other endomorphs would include Gerard Butler and Gerard Butler (But it's harder to notice because they have big, well-toned upper bodies. Just thought I might correct you :).
Thanks Ross!
i have most of the symptons and i went to a secialist for chromosomal testing,so the test turned out that its not klinefelter syndrome but a low borderline of testosterone.i was relieved,some of the symptons i have are wide hips,small testicles ofcourse,but the weiner is soo FINe evn though i have weak erections.I am now on testo replacement and its working wonders,,my erection have improved.
so it is not all men with thise symptons dat hav klinefelter.The main course is the testosterone levels.I also got hurt by the comments as a read through.to be honest,KS people are very emotional and they are angels.they are very good people and yesmthey have a feminine side of lifesyle,
HGod bless you all.i hope all mates out there who relate to this,will find this info helpful.
Onismus, it's good news that they have found the problem and can treat it!
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MangoGirl 3 years ago
This is no random, Cindy. I know why you write about it. :)