Home Health Center Turner Syndrome   Turner Syndrome - Treatment

Treatment for Turner Syndrome



The treatments for turner syndrome primarily involve the following hormone therapies:

• Growth Hormone Therapy: This type of therapy is prescribed for most girls affected by Turner syndrome. It helps to increase height at the appropriate times during childhood and adolescence. Growth hormones are administered through injections several times every week.
• Estrogen Therapy: Girls with Turner syndrome require estrogen to trigger puberty and the resulting sexual development. Estrogen used in combination with growth hormone therapy also promotes growth. This therapy may have to be continued until the age of menopause.

As girls with Turner syndrome enter adulthood, they need to transition to their own adult care. Problems such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and hearing loss may occur in adulthood. Regular checkups are essential to screen for such problems. It is also important to undergo regular heart checkups. Proper medical care along with a healthy lifestyle helps to improve the quality of life.

A small number of women with Turner syndrome are able to get pregnant even without fertility treatment. However these women may still experience ovarian failure and infertility early in their adult years. Hence the timing of pregnancy must be discussed with the doctor. Some women opt for a donor egg or embryo to become pregnant. But this requires specialized hormone therapy to prepare the woman’s body for the pregnancy. There is a high risk involved for most women with Turner syndrome who become pregnant and it is highly important to discuss these risks with the doctor.