Boys, on the other hand, get their MECP2 mutations from their mother, a situation that arises only rarely. (Mutations can also originate in a single cell as the male embryo is developing.)
Scientific papers over the years have hypothesized that because male fetuses only have one X their disease would be so severe that they might not even develop to full term and the mothers might miscarry. There is no clinical data to support this hypothesis whatsoever.
Due to the sheer volume of sperm that is continuously made it is likely that all men produce sperm with MECP2 mutations. One in about 20,000 eggs will be fertilized with a sperm that has an MECP2 mutation in it – the cruel reality of genetic roulette.