# Swyer Syndrome: A diagnostic challenge

**Authors:** Imen Bannour, Badra Bannour, Salma Ferjani, Sassi Boughizane

PMC · DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20240096 · 2025-01-01

## TL;DR

Swyer syndrome is a rare condition where individuals with a male karyotype have a female appearance and infertility due to gonadal dysgenesis.

## Contribution

The paper presents a case of Swyer syndrome in a 32-year-old woman and highlights the importance of chromosomal analysis for diagnosis.

## Key findings

- A 32-year-old woman with a 46XY karyotype presented with primary amenorrhea and a female phenotype.
- Laparoscopy revealed a small uterus, a rare finding in Swyer syndrome.
- The patient's sisters also showed similar symptoms and were scheduled for laparoscopy.

## Abstract

Swyer syndrome, represents a rare manifestation of primary amenorrhea arising
from gonadal dysgenesis. This syndrome is distinguished by the manifestation of
a female phenotype despite a 46, XY karyotype. We present the case of a patient
aged 32 the second of three sisters; consulted for the first time with a main
complaint of primary unexplored amenorrhea responsible for infertility of 1 year
with a female phenotype and a male karyotype: 46XY. The laparoscopy performed
revealed the presence of a small uterus (an unexpected finding for a feminizing
testicular syndrome). The other sisters were respectively examined and found to
have the same pathology as their sister and were eventually programmed to have a
laparoscopy. 46XY pure gonadal dysgenesis, commonly known as Swyer syndrome,
presents as a rare disorder in sexual development. Despite having a 46XY
karyotype, affected individuals exhibit a female phenotype. The underlying cause
is believed to stem from mutations and deletions affecting the Sex Determining
Region Y (SRY) gene located on the short arm of the Y chromosome. Swyer syndrome
should be considered in cases of primary amenorrhea with the presence of a
uterus. Chromosomal analysis is essential for confirming the diagnosis.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** SRY (sex determining region Y) [NCBI Gene 6736]
- **Diseases:** Swyer syndrome (MONDO:0010765), primary amenorrhea (MONDO:1060208), gonadal dysgenesis (MONDO:0001967)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** gonadal dysgenesis (MESH:D006059), infertility (MESH:D007246), feminizing testicular syndrome (MESH:D013734), amenorrhea (MESH:D000568), Swyer Syndrome (MESH:D006061)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11867252/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11867252