Symptoms

At birth or during infancy 
Signs and symptoms of Turner syndrome may vary significantly. In some girls, a number of physical features and poor growth are apparent early. Signs and symptoms that may be apparent at birth or during infancy include:

• Wide or web-like neck
• Receding or small lower jaw
• High, narrow roof of the mouth (palate)
• Low-set ears
• Low hairline at the back of the head
• Drooping eyelids
• Broad chest with widely spaced nipples
• Short fingers and toes
• Arms that turn outward at the elbows (cubitus valgus)
• Fingernails turned upward
• Swelling of the hands and feet, especially at birth
• Slightly smaller than average height at birth
• Delayed growth
• Sensitivity to noise

In older girls, adolescents and young women 
For some girls, the presence of Turner syndrome may not be readily apparent. Signs and symptoms in older girls, adolescents and young women that may indicate Turner syndrome include:

• No growth spurts at expected times in childhood
• Short stature, with an adult height of about 8 inches (20 centimeters) less than might be expected for a female member of her family
• Learning disabilities, particularly with learning that involves spatial concepts or math, though intelligence is usually normal
• Difficulty in social situations, such as problems understanding other people's emotions or reactions
• Failure to begin sexual changes expected during puberty — due to ovarian failure that may have occurred by birth or gradually during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood
• Sexual development that "stalls"
• Early end to menstrual cycles not due to pregnancy
• For most women with Turner syndrome, inability to conceive a child without fertility treatment

When to see a doctor 
Most signs and symptoms of Turner syndrome aren't specific to this disorder. Therefore, it's important to get a prompt diagnosis and appropriate care. See your doctor if you believe your daughter shows signs of Turner syndrome or if you have concerns about her physical, sexual or behavioral development.

Causes

Most people are born with two sex chromosomes. A boy inherits the X chromosome from his mother and the Y chromosome from his father. A girl inherits one X chromosome from each parent. If a girl has Turner syndrome, one copy of the X chromosome is missing or significantly altered. The genetic alterations of Turner syndrome may be one of the following:

• Monosomy. The complete absence of an X chromosome generally occurs because of an error in the father's sperm or in the mother's egg. This results in every cell in the body having only one X chromosome — a condition called monosomy.
• Mosaicism. In some cases, an error occurs in cell division during early stages of fetal development. This results in some cells in the body having two complete copies of the X chromosome. Other cells have only one copy of the X chromosome, or they have one complete and one altered copy. This condition is called mosaicism.
• Y chromosome material. In a small percentage of cases of Turner syndrome, some cells have one copy of the X chromosome and other cells have one copy of the X chromosome and some Y chromosome material. These individuals develop biologically as girls, but the presence of Y chromosome material increases the risk of developing a type of cancer called gonadoblastoma.

Effect of the chromosomal errors 
The missing or altered X chromosome of Turner syndrome causes errors during fetal development and other developmental problems after birth — short stature, ovarian failure and learning disabilities.

Risk factors

The loss or alteration of the X chromosome occurs randomly. Sometimes, it's because of a problem with the sperm or the egg, and other times, the loss or alteration of the X chromosome happens early in fetal development.

Family history doesn't seem to be a risk factor, so it's unlikely that parents of one child with Turner syndrome will have another child with the disorder.

Complications

Turner syndrome can affect the proper development of several body systems. A number of complications may occur, including:

• Heart problems. Many girls and women with Turner syndrome were born with heart defects or even slight abnormalities in heart structure that increase their risk of serious complications. Defects in the main blood vessel leading out of the heart (aorta) increase the risk of a tear in the inner layer of the aorta (aortic dissection). A defect in the valve between the heart and the aorta may also increase the risk of a narrowing of the valve (aortic valve stenosis).
• Risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Women with Turner syndrome have an increased risk of diabetes and high blood pressure — conditions that increase the risk of developing diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• Hearing loss. Hearing loss is common among girls or women with Turner syndrome. In some cases, this is due to the gradual loss of nerve function. Also, slight abnormalities in the shape of the skull increase the risk of frequent middle ear infections and hearing loss related to these infections.
• Kidney problems. About one-third of girls with Turner syndrome have some malformation of the kidneys. Although these malformations generally don't cause medical problems, they may increase the risk of high blood pressure and urinary tract infections.
• Immune disorders. Girls and women with Turner syndrome have an increased risk of certain immune system disorders, including a condition that causes an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). This disorder results in the low production of hormones important for controlling heart rate, growth and metabolism. There's also an increased risk of wheat intolerance (celiac disease) and type 1 diabetes, a condition that affects how your body processes carbohydrates in food.
• Dental problems. Poor or abnormal tooth development may lead to a greater risk of tooth loss. The shape of the roof of the mouth and lower jaw often results in crowded teeth and a poorly aligned bite.
• Vision problems. Girls with Turner syndrome have an increased risk of weak muscle control of eye movements (strabismus) and farsightedness (hyperopia).
• Skeletal problems. Problems with the growth and development of bones increase the risk of abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and forward rounding of the upper back (kyphosis). Women with Turner syndrome are also at increased risk of developing weak, brittle bones (osteoporosis).
• Pregnancy complications. Some women with Turner syndrome can become pregnant with fertility treatment. However, most women with the disorder have relatively high-risk pregnancies. There's an increased risk of the mother developing high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and aortic dissection.
• Psychological issues. Girls and women with Turner syndrome may have an increased risk of low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, difficulties functioning well in social situations and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Preparing for your appointment

How you learn if your daughter has Turner syndrome will depend on the degree to which it has affected her development. If certain conditions — such as a webbed neck or other distinct physical features — are readily apparent at birth, diagnostic tests will likely begin before your child leaves the hospital.

Your family doctor or pediatrician may suspect the disorder later in your daughter's childhood if she isn't growing at an expected rate or isn't beginning puberty at an expected time.

Well-baby visits and annual checkups 
It's important to take your daughter to all regularly scheduled well-baby visits and annual appointments throughout childhood. These visits are an opportunity for your doctor to take height measurements, note delays in expected growth and identify other problems in physical development.

Questions you may be asked by your daughter's doctor might include the following:

• What concerns do you have about your daughter's growth or development?
• How well does she eat?
• Has your daughter begun to show signs of puberty?
• Is she experiencing any learning difficulties at school?
• How does she do in peer-to-peer interactions or social situations?

Talking to your doctor about Turner syndrome 
If your family doctor or pediatrician believes that your daughter exhibits signs or symptoms of Turner syndrome and suggests diagnostic tests for the disorder, you may want to ask the following questions:

• What diagnostic tests will we need?
• When will we know the results of the tests?
• What specialists will we need to see?
• How will we screen for disorders or complications that are commonly associated with Turner syndrome?
• How will you help us monitor my daughter's health and development?
• Can you suggest educational materials and local support services regarding Turner syndrome?

Tests and diagnosis

If your family doctor or pediatrician suspects that your daughter has Turner syndrome, a laboratory test will likely be done to analyze your daughter's chromosomes using cells from a blood sample. The test results are a specialized image (karyotype) that enables a specialist to count and judge the condition of each chromosome in a sample.

Prenatal diagnosis 
A diagnosis is sometimes made during fetal development. Certain features on an ultrasound image may raise the suspicion that your baby has Turner syndrome or another genetic condition affecting development in the womb. Your pregnancy and childbirth specialist (obstetrician) may ask if you're interested in additional tests to make a diagnosis before your baby's birth. One of two procedures can be performed to test for Turner syndrome:

• Chorionic villus sampling. This involves removal of a small piece of tissue from the placenta.
• Amniocentesis. In this test, a sample of the amniotic fluid is taken from the uterus.

However, prenatal testing poses some risk to the fetus, and can lead to a false-positive result. Discuss the benefits and risks of prenatal testing with your doctor.

Health care team 
Because Turner syndrome can result in several developmental problems and medical complications, a number of specialists may be involved in screening for specific conditions, making diagnoses, recommending treatments and providing care. This team may evolve as your child's needs change, and your family doctor or pediatrician can coordinate the care. Specialists in your care team may include the following professionals:

• Hormone disorder specialist (endocrinologist)
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist (otolaryngologist)
• Specialist in skeletal disorders (orthopedist)
• Heart specialist (cardiologist)
• Specialist in women's health (gynecologist)
• Mental health provider, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist
• Dental specialist in correcting problems with the alignment of teeth (orthodontist)
• Specialist in vision problems and other eye disorders (ophthalmologist)
• Developmental therapist, who specializes in therapy to help your child develop age-appropriate behaviors, social skills and interpersonal skills
• Special education instructors
• Pediatrician to coordinate the care program

Treatment and drugs

The primary treatments for nearly all girls and women include hormone therapies:

• Growth hormone. Growth hormone therapy is recommended for most girls with Turner syndrome. The goal of this therapy is to increase height as much as possible at appropriate times during your daughter's childhood and adolescence. Growth hormone treatment is usually given several times a week as injections of somatropin (Humatrope, Genotropin, Saizen).
• Estrogen therapy. Most girls with Turner syndrome need to begin estrogen and related hormone therapy in order to begin puberty and achieve adult sexual development. Estrogen may also help your daughter grow when used in conjunction with growth hormone. Estrogen replacement therapy usually continues throughout life, until a woman reaches the average age of menopause.

Transition to adult care 
It's important to help your daughter prepare for the transition from care with your family doctor or pediatrician to her own adult medical care. Her doctor can continue to coordinate care among a number of specialists throughout her life. Regular checkups have shown substantial improvements in the quality and length of life for women with Turner syndrome. Particular problems that often arise during adulthood include hearing loss, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis. Healthy lifestyle habits, such as maintaining proper weight and exercising regularly, are important throughout life.

Periodic follow-up with a heart specialist (cardiologist) is important, as are regular ultrasounds of the heart (echocardiography). This test uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart, allowing the cardiologist to make sure your daughter's heart is healthy.

Pregnancy and fertility treatment 
Few women with Turner syndrome can become pregnant without fertility treatment. Those who can are still likely to experience failure of the ovaries and subsequent infertility very early in adulthood. Therefore, it's important to discuss timing of pregnancy with your doctor.

Some women with Turner syndrome can become pregnant with the donation of an egg or embryo. This requires a specially designed hormone therapy to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.

In most cases, women with Turner syndrome have relatively high-risk pregnancies. It's important to discuss those risks with your doctor.

Coping and support

Because your daughter may look different from her peers, she may find it sometimes difficult to cope with having Turner syndrome. You as a parent also may have difficulties coping. You'll likely have many concerns about your daughter's health, social interactions, friendships, education and general well-being.

The Turner Syndrome Society of the United States and other organizations provide educational materials, resources for families and information about support groups. Groups for parents provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, develop coping strategies and locate resources. Peer groups for girls with Turner syndrome can help reinforce your daughter's self-esteem and provide her with a social network of people who understand her experience with Turner syndrome.