What is the Difference Between Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Mullerian Agenesis?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and Müllerian Agenesis are two distinct congenital disorders that may present with similar symptoms, such as primary amenorrhea. However, they have different underlying causes and characteristics:
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS):
- AIS is a genetic condition due to androgen receptor dysfunction, predominantly seen in males.
- It is characterized by the partial or complete inability of cells to respond to androgens.
- Individuals with AIS may have a female or ambiguous genitalia, and the gonads are testes, which produce normal androgens.
Müllerian Agenesis:
- Müllerian Agenesis is a congenital disorder characterized by the failure of the Müllerian duct to develop, resulting in the absence or underdevelopment of the vagina, uterus, or both.
- It affects females and is caused by embryologic underdevelopment of the Müllerian duct.
- Patients with Müllerian Agenesis have normal height, breast development, body hair, and external genitalia.
Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests, and imaging scanning, and they can be treated through specific surgeries. The key difference between Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Müllerian Agenesis is that AIS is caused by the inability of cells to respond to androgens, while Müllerian Agenesis is caused by the failure of the Müllerian duct to develop. Furthermore, AIS mainly affects males, while Müllerian Agenesis mainly affects females.
Comparative Table: Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome vs Mullerian Agenesis
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and Müllerian Agenesis are two different congenital disorders that may present with similar symptoms, such as primary amenorrhea. Here is a comparison table of the differences between the two conditions:
Feature | Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) | Müllerian Agenesis |
---|---|---|
Genetics | Predominantly seen in males, due to androgen receptor dysfunction. | Predominantly seen in females, characterized by the failure of the Müllerian ducts to develop. |
Genotype | Genotype XY. | Genotype XX. |
Serum T Levels | Normal male T levels. | Normal female T levels. |
Pubic and Axillary Hair | Decreased pubic and axillary hair in AIS. | Normal female pubic and axillary hair. |
Height | Increased height compared with female counterparts. | Normal female height. |
Vaginal and Uterine Development | Vagina may be shortened and may appear as a dimple, with no uterus and intraabdominal testes. | Vagina is present and may appear as a small flush dimple or longer, without a cervix at the vaginal apex, and may be shortened. |
Diagnosis | The diagnosis can be confirmed by testing the CYP17A1 gene and careful interpretation of adrenal hormones, including elevated serum deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone levels and low cortisol, androgens, and estrogen levels. | Diagnosis mainly involves imaging studies such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to delineate internal anatomic structures, and to identify absent or hypoplastic vagina and uterus. |
Despite their differences, both conditions can lead to primary amenorrhea and may require further evaluation to determine the underlying cause.
- Swyer Syndrome vs Androgen Insensitivity
- Agenesis vs Atresia
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia vs Hypoplasia
- Mullerian Duct vs Wolffian Duct
- Androgen vs Estrogen
- Anabolic vs Androgenic
- Gynandromorph vs Hermaphrodite
- Klinefelter vs Kallmann Syndrome
- Male vs Female Gametogenesis
- Cisgenesis vs Intragenesis
- Genetic Male Sterility vs Cytoplasmic Male Sterility
- Hermaphrodite vs Intersex
- Androgenic Alopecia vs Alopecia Areata
- Male vs Female Reproductive System
- Atresia vs Stenosis
- Male vs Female Germ Cell
- Spermatogenesis vs Oogenesis
- Parthenogenesis vs Hermaphroditism
- Anencephaly vs Microcephaly