This is my story.
Written by: Cesar Cortes
Something has been on my mind for quite some time, and I’m entirely comfortable sharing it with the world. I was born with a rare condition called Klinefelter’s Syndrome or XXY. I’m not like most guys. I have an extra X chromosome. It Is a condition that can’t be cured, and a random genetic error causes it. Since I was born with it, it caused problems that affected my physical development.
Not many people are aware of it, and for the longest time, I felt alone because I didn’t know anyone else that had it. It wasn’t until I met Jack Woods @jackattack1777 here that someone had the same condition as me. He showed me a community called Living With XXY, which brought joy to my heart—knowing that others like me are living their life to the fullest. S/o to Jack, that guy has tremendous dedication and willpower to accomplish his goals, and I’m so glad to be his friend.
Growing up, I always had an intuitive feeling that something was off about me. When I was in high school, I became more aware of it. As my classmates began to develop physically and change, I felt nothing was happening to me. I was tall with long limbs, no facial hair and skinny with skinny fat. No matter how hard I tried to gain weight, I simply couldn’t. Instead of looking older, I examined the same. I honestly did not enjoy high school; it was my life’s roughest and darkest time.
When I was 21, I was applying for the air force, and the doctor noticed something strange during the medical/physical exam. I was medically dq’d and was told to go to my doctor to get the hormones LH and FSH tested.
My primary doctor referred me to a urologist who did some blood work, and those hormones returned highly elevated. From there, I was referred to an endocrinologist to do more testing. My testosterone levels were checked; the standard range is 300-1000ng/dl. Mine were at 247. The Doctor said my levels were equivalent to an 80-year-old man’s and that my age was wrong. More testing was done, and I finally got a diagnosis. Klinefelter syndrome caused primary hypogonadism.
The part of my body responsible for producing testosterone wasn’t functioning. Everything made sense on why I wasn’t developing correctly and suffered from low energy, brain fog, inability to gain muscle, facial hair, and depression. I had all the signs. The only treatment available for me was TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
It took a while before my levels got into the healthy range, and it was a night and day difference. My whole world and outlook on life did a complete 360. The veil that had me going through life without motivation and kept me low was lifted and vanquished. I had a burning desire to live my life to the fullest and want to succeed. I’m super grateful to live when the medicine is advanced, and I can get the medicine I need. The tattoo on my leg is the testosterone molecule because it exponentially transformed my life.
I started to hit the gym, and slowly but surely, I began to see results. I went from being this shy, skinny kid with no backbone or confidence to someone who is the opposite of that. I’m not the man I want to be just yet, but I’m working hard to get to where I want to be. That is why I’m so dedicated and focused on the gym. I train hard, and when I get stuck, I reach out to others that can help me improve. Time is valuable, and when I train, I stay focused and put in 110% effort. I genuinely feel that I was put on this earth with this condition for a reason.
One thing I trip about is if I had never made the deal to apply for the military, who knows where I would be at? I never planned on having kids, but men with this condition find out they have it because they cannot have children and need assistance from fertility clinics. It’s crazy how one decision can have a considerable impact. I’m not devastated that I can’t either; I’m relieved that I can focus on my goals with nothing to hold me down.
If you have read this far, thank you, my mission in life is to help, inspire and motivate others in any way I can by sharing my journey. Just because life deals you with conditions doesn’t mean you can’t go after your dreams.
8 Responses
Thank you it’s an amazing and inspirational story
Cesar! Thank you for sharing! You story is an inspiration and I read it out to my husband this morning who is still processing his diagnosis. We have an appointment with an endocrinologist next month and I hope that it is successful for him as it has been for you. I don’t know you, but I am super proud of you and your outlook for life! Jenna – Australia
You are an inspiration. ! May you continue to find your path in life and May it be extra special , just like your extra x. Which actually isn’t that rare . 1:450-500 ,
I’ll save this to share it with my XXY boy when the time comes.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for the post. I just discovered Living With XXY Org minutes ago. I am 22 years from Kenya, Africa and living with this condition too. Growing up has always been a nightmare; low energy, being sad and depressed all my life, low self esteem seeing that I wasn’t growing physically and sexually unlike my peers and even boys younger than me. I was often mistaken for a girl as teenager which only made my low self esteem and depression worse. I haven’t gotten help as I am from a poor family and it frustrates me to be aware of the solutions to this condition but no access to it. I am in University currently, broke and no job nor any finances at all. I wonder if this community could be of any help to me. Thanks again.
You said you genuinely felt that you were put on this earth with this condition for a reason Your absolutely right. In God’s Word “in Mathew19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb,” New king James Version. I am not trying to attack you , on the contrary I’m also XXY. I’m 60 years old and Ryan has asked me to put my story out there but I haven’t had the courage to do so yet. My story is different from most XXY men.
Cesar, my son would be your twin. His body looks just like your early picture and career choice is the same. We found out two months ago when he went to do the military physical because he wants to go to the Air Force Academy. So far everything has happened just as your did except he was cleared. They just told me to follow up with a dr. Thank you for sharing.
This is such an inspiring story. I recently in the last couple years have too discovered that I might be a XXY male. Growing up I had a difficult time fitting in with the other boys, so to be able to have read your story, it inspires me to share my own similar but different story.