XXY

Organisation Intersex International 

OII

NOTE: Not all XXY's have symptoms of what is medically known as Klinefelter's syndrome, nor do they all identify as male.

There are 23 pairs of chromosomes found in each cell of the body, and each contains genes that determine our coloring, our features, and our sex. Usually, women inherit two X chromosomes -- one from each parent, written 46,XX.  Men usually inherit an X chromosome from their mothers and a Y chromosome from their fathers, written 46,XY.  Some individuals, however, have an additional X chromosome in their chromosomal arrangement, referred to as 47,XXY, or more commonly, just XXY.  The cause is unknown, yet XXY occurs in approximately 1 in every 500 to 1000 live births among those assigned male, making it one of the most common chromosome variations.   The XXY variation is identified in an individual through a karyotype, a buccal smear, or FISH. 

For support for men, women and intersex people who are XXY and their parents:

GendersInX: http://www.GendersInX.org

For more information visit:  http://47xxy.org/XXY.htm

For more detailed medical information: http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1252.htm