FOLLOW-UP OF TURNER ADOLESCENTS

Background. Adult women suffering from Turner's syndrome were born too early to have been treated with growth hormone. Most of them are not familiar with the results of the new methods of reproductive medicine. It is thus useful to know their long-term development after their adolescence. Patients and methods. A questionnaire was sent to 107 young Turner women aged 18 to 35 years. It included data on their level of education and qualification, their social, familial and professional accomplishments, their sentimental and sexual status, their housing and their leisure activities, their opinion of themselves and of the treatment they had received. Results. The mean subject height was 144.5 +/- 6.9 cm (range : 130-160 cm); 50 % had received an advanced education and only 1 patient suffered from mental retardation. 40 % had a steady employment and 34 % were still at school. 13 of the 44 patients who responded had normal sexual lives. 92 % were interested in reading, movies, theater or music. Conclusions. These adults have overcome the difficulties resulting from their handicaps and are successful in their adaptation to the adult society. This is due to their intelligence and personalities.