---
title: National Trisomy Awareness Month
description: March is National Trisomy Awareness Month! But what is trisomy (try-so-me)? What are the different types?
---

[The Nightingale Blog | Los Angeles Nursing School | LVN Programs ](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/nightingale)

# [National Trisomy Awareness Month](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/nightingale/national-trisomy-awareness-month)

 Written by [Taylor Miranda](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/nightingale/author/taylor-miranda) | Mar 3, 2016 9:30:00 PM

### Did you know...

That March is designated as National Trisomy Awareness Month? 

But, okay, what IS trisomy (pronounced "try-so-me")? Who does it affect? How?   
Let me answer those questions for you. 

### 1. What is Trisomy? 

As defined by Support Organization for Trisomy (SOFT), trisomy "[refers to three copies of a chromosome](http://trisomy.org/?page_id=20658)." So Trisomy 21 can be understood as a genetic disorder that specifically affects chromosome 21, creating three copies of chromosome 21. 

There are three different types of trisomy possible: 

- Full or Primary trisomy: Three copies of a chromosome in all cells
- Mosaic or Secondary trisomy: A portion of cells with trisomy, the other portion with just two copies 
- Partial or Tertiary trisomy: Only a piece of a chromosome is copied 

### 2. Common Trisomy Syndromes

Trisomy of *autosomal* chromosomes (NOT sex chromosomes) cause varying degrees of developmental and intellectual delays, along with visible physical differences. The most common trisomy syndromes are listed below: 

- Trisomy 21: Down Syndrome 
- Trisomy 18: Edwards Syndrome  
- Trisomy 13: Patau Syndrome

And while there are also trisomy of *sex chromosomes*, the physical and mental effects are not as visible as, for example, Trisomy 21, thus are often are undiagnosed: 

- Triple X Syndrome (XXX) 
- Klinefelter Syndrome (XXY) 
- XYY Syndrome (XYY) 

### 3. Support Organization for Trisomy (SOFT)

"[SOFT](http://trisomy.org/) is a self-funded I.R.S. 501(c)(3) **non-profit, volunteer organization** incorporated in 1980. SOFT has helped families for over **three decades** and is recognized as a primary source of information about trisomy 18, 13 and related disorders."

Also, if you are an expectant parent or would like to support SOFT, consider joining their [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Trisomy18.Trisomy13.Awareness.SOFTrelatedDisorders) page and [becoming a member](http://trisomy.org/?page_id=17)! Show your support *beyond* this March. 

 

**Please consider [donating](http://trisomy.org/?page_id=35) to SOFT today.**

### You Might Like: 

[How to De-Stress Your Life](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/thenightingale/how-to-de-stress-your-life)

[4 Incredible Black Nurses](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/thenightingale/4-incredible-black-nurses)

[5 Important Women in Medicine](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/thenightingale/5-important-women-in-medicine)

[Proper Eye Drop Instillation](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/thenightingale/proper-eye-drop-instillation)

[Proper Hand Washing Technique ](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/thenightingale/proper-hand-washing-technique)

### Sources

[National Health Observances Calendar ](https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/nho.aspx?year=2016)

[Trisomy Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisomy)

[Support Organization for Trisomy (SOFT) 

](http://trisomy.org/)

***Note: This was not a sponsored post for or by the abovementined organizations.**

[View full post](https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/nightingale/national-trisomy-awareness-month)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Taylor Miranda"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2020-07-15T22:12:42.573Z",
  "datePublished" : "2016-03-03T21:30:00Z",
  "headline" : "National Trisomy Awareness Month",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 900,
    "url" : "http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/720019/trisomy2.png",
    "width" : 1500
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.angelesinstitute.edu/nightingale/national-trisomy-awareness-month",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "The Nightingale"
  }
}
```