My name is Gregory Duncan, I am 30 years old and I have Klinefelter syndrome and this is my story.
It’s September of 2017, my wife and I are celebrating our second wedding anniversary with a trip to Mexico. We had been talking about trying to start a family soon, but I think you know how that goes. A couple of months go by and we have no luck, we assume it is something wrong with her. After some time passes, her doctor suggests that I go in for a Sperm Analysis. The results were not expected. The results were confusing, infuriating, devastating, and unexplainable. The next action was to see a Fertility Specialist. There they administered another Sperm Analysis Exam. Again, test results were 0 sperm count also known as Azoospermia. I was then referred to a Urologist who chalked it up as “testicular failure”. No explanation, no information, nothing. I was devastated. The feeling of finding out that you will never have the chance to meet your offspring at the age of 28 is hard to hear. It is an overwhelming feeling of sadness, guilt, and uselessness. Not content with the results, my wife insisted that I get a second opinion.
We then visited Dr. Donna Sessions in Franklin, TN who specializes in Fertility. Dr. Sessions ordered a Chromosome Analysis for me to see what was causing the 0 sperm count. On 6/15/2018, 15 days before my 29th birthday, I found out that I have Klinefelter Syndrome 47XXY. To be honest, I was relieved to find out this news at first. At least I knew why we were not getting the results we wanted. And we now knew the path we needed to take to have a child. We ultimately would choose to use a sperm donor to start our family.
Finding out that a lifetime of testosterone replacement therapy came with XXY was emotional, to say the least. I remember the first time I administered my shot; I sat there in the bathroom and cried for a while, partly because I was overwhelmed with the immense realization of doing this forever and also because of the lack of knowledge of all things Klinefelter syndrome. After scouring the Internet, YouTube, and social media for tips on how to administer testosterone replacement therapy shots and just Klinefelter syndrome information in general, I slowly became more accepting of my new life routine.
I still get emotional at times when thinking about everything my wife and I have been through in the past 2 years but, I have to remember this is still new to me and it may take time to get used to the new me. Although, I don’t see Klinefelter Syndrome as a curse or a negative diagnosis anymore; I am proud to have Klinefelter syndrome, I am proud of who I am and I am proud of who I will become. I am proud to be a part of this community.
Thanks to a generous sperm donor and the work of Dr. Sessions, we found on 11/6/2018 that we were pregnant. And on 7/13/2019, the most beautiful little girl was born, Madeline James Duncan. My daughter’s birth was the single best day of my life! And if I didn’t have Klinefelter syndrome she wouldn’t be here, so for that, I am thankful that I am living with XXY. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with this amazing community, Gregory Duncan.
One Response
So Madie has a birthday coming up in July — 1 year!!! Thank you for the uplifting story and especially the very positive attitude you have Gregory. I have tried to tell XXY’s over and over that it’s not over until the skinny lady sings. Our infertility is not the last chance. We have many options and any of which can create a valid family the same as any other male in the world seemingly does so effortlessly.