Eunuchoid body proportions

[ClareMulligan]

My arm span exceeds my height (73 inches) by 5 inches (12 cm).  My upper body from crown of the head to the top of the pubis symphysis is 32 inches, from the top of the pubis to the floor is 41 inches.  I understand that these body proportions constitute a eunuchoid habitus, indicating that I had an androgen deficiency during childhood.

I am now 49 years old, but I am curious to know the most likely cause.  I do not think my puberty was very late; I had my first ejaculation at 13.  My facial hair was never heavy, but I did have facial and chest hair.

I say "did" because I am now a transsexual woman.  Obviously, I am not concerned about this now, but I am wondering about it because I think low androgen might have affected my psychosexual development.

I had a karyotype done 10 years ago and the result was normal XY.

[abhishekj85]

History u are giving is suggestive of constitutional delay of growth and puberty. The only investigations that could have been done at that time to reveal this was bone age. This would have showed less than 1-2 yr less the chronological age but equivalent to height age. There are no long term consiquences after attainment of height about normal for the age group. (Also sometimes there is history of delayed growth spurt in one of ur parents)

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Neither the arm span: height ration nor the US: LS ratio are suggestive of eunuchoid habitus. The arm span may be slightly more or less than the height and while a difference of 5 inches would be above average, it may not particularly be abnormal. The sex hormones have little effect on the psychological aspect of sexual development. Slightly longer limbs can be normal/ genetic or can be seen with connective tissue disorders, hormonal causes, metabolic issues etc. While a normal karyotype would rule out syndromic associations, if there are no other symptoms/ associations, there is little evidence to suspect an abnormality.
Hope the information is helpful.

Take care!