Own Study

Physical characteristics

Each patient was examined for: general body build; height and weight; general physical and neurologic state; certain body measurements, according to Lindegard's scheme (described in a special section); in men, the appearance of the external genitals, size and consistency of testes, as far as could be judged subjectively (cf. LindegArd, Morsing & Nyman, 1956), size and consistency of the prostate, judged subjectively, type and amount of terminal hair and gynecomastia; in women, gynecologic state as evaluated by a gynecologist, type and amount of terminal hair, size and consistency of breasts judged subjectively, and hirsutism.

The cases treated with hormones were not examined for the variables which might have been affected by the treatment (cases 4, 9, 11, 28, 35, 40, 42). The patients themselves were asked if they had been given hormones, and the physicians they had already consulted were asked the same.

Two patients (cases I and 25) had a dysplastic body build, otherwise nothing of note was observed in the general build, weight or height of the patients, the values being normal for the age and sex in each case.

The physical and neurologic examination revealed slight paralysis of the left abducens nerve, but no other neurologic abnormality in I case (case 13), and dorsal kyphoscoliosis, bilateral nystagmus and reduced vision in the left eye in I case (case 1).

As to the characteristics given special attention in the men: The penis was of infantile appearance and only 3 cm long in I man (case 1), who also had a shrunken scrotum; an operation done previously for undescended testes had revealed bilateral testicular atrophy. In I case (case 30) the testes were of extremely soft consistency, though of normal size. No prostate was palpable in I case (case 1). The pubic hair was of feminine appearance in about 19 per cent of the cases-cases 3, 10, 25, 27 and 29; the patients were 19, 34, 42, 18 and 21 years old, respectively. (By a feminine distribution of pubic hair is meant a straight, transverse, or slightly rounded upper outline, and no sign of extension toward the umbilicus.) One man lacked all signs of a beard (case 1, aged 29) and 2 men, aged 19 and 21, had only a suggestion of a beard (cases 3, 6); these 2 patients had never shaved. Two other men (cases 12, 25), aged 23 and 42, shaved only once a week. One man (case 6) showed distinct gynecomastia of the left breast, and I (case 1) had very sparse axillary hair.

As to the characteristics specially examined in the women: Nothing distinctly abnormal was noted on gynecologic examination. Two women, (cases 37 and 41), aged 20 and 45, had pubic hair of mate type (by which is meant extension reaching to, or almost to the umbilicus). Two women (cases 37 and 41), aged 20 and 45, had only infantile breasts. One woman (case 37) showed luxuriant hair around the areolae, and hair on her sternal region.