Health-Related Quality of Life, Mental Health and Psychotherapeutic Considerations for Women Diagnosed with a Disorder of Sexual Development: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

First Adolescent Romantic and Sexual Experiences in Individuals With Differences of Sex Development/Intersex Conditions

PURPOSE

Adolescence is an important period for sexual development, including sexual debut. The purpose of this study was to assess first romantic and sexual experiences and debut age in individuals with differences of sex development (DSD/intersex) and compare these with age-matched and gender-matched population control values.

METHODS

Questionnaire data on sociodemographic characteristics, romantic and sexual milestones (e.g., masturbation, dating), satisfaction with sexual life and sexual activity at follow-up, self-esteem, and feelings of femininity or masculinity were collected from 976 participants in Europe with a DSD condition. Participants were divided into six diagnostic subgroups based on their diagnostic classification: women with Turner syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 46XY-DSD nonvirilized, and 46XY-DSD female partially virilized conditions and men with 46XY-DSD male or Klinefelter syndrome. Age-specific and gender-specific reference values were retrieved from a Dutch population sample.

RESULTS

Individuals with DSD were less likely to reach each of the romantic and sexual milestones compared to their peers without these conditions and they were significantly older when reaching these milestones. Between clinical subgroups, individuals with Klinefelter were significantly older when reaching milestones and in the female groups and individuals with Turner were the least likely to reach milestones. Furthermore, a higher age when reaching several romantic and sexual milestones was correlated with lower self-esteem, lower satisfaction with sexual life, and lower sexual frequency at follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Due to a difference in biopsychosocial context, individuals with DSD often experience a different and/or delayed sexual development during adolescence. Healthcare providers should be aware of these differences in adolescents with DSD and their sexual development to optimize affirmative counseling.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Mixed Methods Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of female children with CAH as reported by children and their caregivers.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A convergent mixed methods design was selected whereby quantitative and qualitative results were merged to provide a comprehensive understanding of HRQOL of children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 child-caregiver dyads. The full sample of child-caregiver dyads (N = 25) completed KINDL-R questionnaires, which provided a quantitative measure of children's HRQOL.

RESULTS

Children and their caregivers reported good overall HRQOL. Children scored significantly lower on the KINDL-R School subscale compared to their caregivers. Associations were observed between the HRQOL score from one graphic rating scale item and the child's other health issues and child's diagnosis. Themes emerging from the child and caregiver interviews were health-related quality of life, impact of stigma on psychological well-being, information-sharing and disclosure of CAH, and improving the quality of life of children with CAH.

CONCLUSION

This mixed methods study provided evidence to understand the health and complex needs of children with CAH.

IMPLICATIONS

Clinicians may better support children and caregivers by expanding the focus beyond medication management to include: 1) psychological support and resources (i.e., developmentally appropriate coping and adaptation strategies); 2) continuous education for clinical staff, school nurses, emergency medical transport staff, and providers; and 3) public awareness beyond the clinic and hospital settings.

Women With Amenorrhea and Men With Menstruation: The Qualitative Experiences of People With Disorders of Sex Development in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Disorders of sex development (DSD) affect the quality of life of people who live with this condition. In developing countries, diagnoses of DSD are associated with a delay in presentation until the patients developed ambiguous physical traits and features.

PURPOSE

This study explores the menstrual experiences of people with DSD and sex reassignment in Nigeria.

METHODS

A qualitative approach with a phenomenological study design was employed in this study to explore and describe the experiences of people with DSD at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software.

RESULTS

The findings show that the participants experienced menstrual problems: men with menstruation and women with amenorrhea. The female participants generally described amenorrhea as a disappointment and linked menstruation with womanhood. Amenorrhea evinced both emotional and psychological effects. However, some of the female participants considered amenorrhea in a positive light and were happy with their lives without menstruation. The menstrual experiences of male participants included menarche, lower abdominal pain, regular monthly bleeding, and ovulation. The male participants described menstruation as a disaster in their lives and a source of anxiety, suicidal ideation, and depression. Menstruation negatively affected their psychosocial well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

The menstrual experience of individuals with DSD negatively affects their quality of life. The women with DSD in this study showed a generally poor knowledge of menarche, menstruation, and puberty, indicating that their parents had ignored the initial symptoms of DSD. DSD were only recognized at puberty because of the development of ambiguous physical traits and of the onset of menstruation in men and the confirmation of amenorrhea in women.

Experiences of people living with disorders of sex development and sex reassignment: Meta-ethnography of qualitative studies

AIM

The aim of this study was to synthesize the experiences of people with disorders of sex development.

BACKGROUND

The quality of life of people with disorders of sex development depends largely on the availability of good psychosocial and psychosexual management. There is a lack of qualitative systematic reviews of the literature on the experiences of people with disorders of sex development.

DESIGN

The seven steps of qualitative meta-ethnography were employed in this review.

DATA SOURCES

The following electronic databases were systematically searched until January 2017: Science Direct, Scopus, Sage online, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Medline, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. Search terms for this review were "disorders of sex development," "intersex," "ambiguous genitalia," "experiences," "qualitative study," and "method".

REVIEW METHOD

A 13-item scale was applied to evaluate the quality of the selected studies and synthesized using the principles of meta-ethnography.

FINDINGS

Twelve studies met the eligibility criteria. Six major themes described the experiences of people with disorders of sex development. These included a range of physical, psychological, social, and sexual experiences which affect their quality of life. Different coping strategies were employed by individuals who live with the lifelong condition.

CONCLUSION

Disorders of sex development affect the quality of life of people living with these disorders. Nurses are tasked with providing holistic care for people with disorders of sex development in order to improve their quality of lives. As such, there is a need to explore the experiences of nurses in the management of disorders of sex development.

Quality of life in patients with adrenal disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Evaluating the patient with adrenal disease is challenging due to the lack of precise clinical and biochemical parameters for disease control. Quality of life (QOL) evaluation aims to measure the patient's subjective experience.

OBJECTIVE

To describe how QOL is defined and measured in adrenal disease, critically appraise the use of QOL tools in published literature, discuss the implications of these findings and provide direction for further research in this field.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the Cochrane library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science databases to identify only primary studies where self-reported QOL was measured as a parameter in adults with confirmed adrenal disease, and results presented in English. Key data were independently extracted from each study and adherence to reporting guidelines evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 117 studies involving 13 717 subjects were included. The vast majority of studies did not define QOL. The most common approach was to combine generic and domain-specific tools, although disease-specific tools are increasingly being used. Adherence to reporting guidelines was variable. A narrative synthesis of the findings was performed.

CONCLUSION

We present the first systematic review of QOL in adrenal disease. Quality of life is reduced in patients with adrenal disease, irrespective of adrenal hyperfunction or hypofunction. Quality of life improved with therapy but was not completely reversed despite biochemical remission. Authors should adhere to consistent reporting practices which are interpretable by clinicians. Further research is required to explain the mechanisms driving impaired QOL and value of QOL evaluations in the clinical context.

Depression, sexual dysfunction and sexual quality of life in women with infertility

Background

Women suffering from infertility are at higher risk of experiencing psychological problems. Sexual function and sexual related quality of life is not considered as it should be. We designed this study to assess depression, sexual function and sexual quality of life in Iranian women with infertility.

Methods

Two hundred and sixty four individuals participated in the study (115 healthy controls, 78 with primary and 71 with secondary infertility). All participants were asked to fill a valid and reliable Persian versions of BDI (Beck depression inventory), FSFIS (Female Sexual Function Index) and sexual quality of life-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaires.

Results

Mean BDI score was significantly lower in healthy individuals.Individuals with primary infertility suffered more from sexual dysfunction, while BDI score was significantly higher and SQOL-F was significantly lower in cases with sexual dysfunction. There was significant positive correlation between SQOL-F and total FSFI score (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis by considering SQOL-F as dependent and age, BDI, duration of marriage, sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤26.55 or > 26.55) showed that BDI and sexual dysfunction were independent predictors of SQOL-F.

Conclusion

Sexual function and quality of life related to sexual life should be considered in Iranian infertile ones. Depression as a crucial factor should be focused more in infertile women.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-018-0584-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The experience of women living with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: impact of the condition and the care given

CONTEXT

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is caused most often by mutations in the CYP21A2 gene, resulting in cortisol and aldosterone deficiency and increased production of androgens.

OBJECTIVE

To describe how women with CAH experience their condition and the care given.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Semi-structured interviews with 13 adult Swedish women with CAH were transcribed. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis to describe the variability in the experiences.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Qualitative evaluation of the participants' life experiences.

RESULTS

The participants' experiences of having CAH are described in four different categories. 1. Information comprises the experiences of interaction with healthcare providers, knowledge acquisition and information disclosure. 2. Exposure encompasses the experiences of genital examinations, the medical focus on the genitalia and of being photographed repeatedly. 3. Health covers the self-perceived experiences of having a medical condition that requires pharmacological treatment and sometimes surgery. 4. Research comprises the experiences of having a scientifically well-studied condition. Different experiences of shame reoccur in all categories, thus forming the latent theme.

CONCLUSION

The experience of living with congenital adrenal hyperplasia can be facilitated by increased information and by acknowledging that women with CAH are a heterogeneous group with individual needs. Shame may be counterbalanced by increased parental support and increased knowledge among healthcare personnel aimed at providing children with continuous support and coping strategies during their upbringing. Based on the identified themes in this study, there are several research avenues to pursue in the future.

Nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome

Nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) is one of the most frequent autosomal recessive disorders in man with a prevalence ranging from 0.1 % in Caucasians up to a few percent in certain ethnic groups. Most cases are never diagnosed due to very mild symptoms, misdiagnosing as polycystic ovary syndrome, or ignorance. In contrast to classic CAH, patients with NCAH present with mild partial cortisol insufficiency and hyperandrogenism and will survive without any treatment. Undiagnosed NCAH may result in infertility, miscarriages, oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, acne, premature pubarche, testicular adrenal rest tumors, adrenal tumors, and voice problems among other symptoms. A baseline measurement of 17-hydroxyprogesterone can be used for diagnosis, but the ACTH stimulation test with measurement of 17-hydroxyprogesterone is regarded as the golden standard. The diagnosis can be verified by CYP21A2 mutation analysis. Treatment is symptomatic and usually with glucocorticoids alone. The lowest possible glucocorticoid dose should be used. Long-term treatment with glucocorticoids will improve the symptoms but will also result in iatrogenic cortisol insufficiency and may also lead to long-term complications such as obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, osteoporosis, and fractures. Although the complications seen in NCAH patients have been assumed to be related to the glucocorticoid treatment, some may, in fact, be associated with prolonged hyperandrogenism. Different risk factors and negative consequences should be monitored regularly in an attempt to improve the clinical outcome. More research is needed in this relatively common disorder.

Quality of life of patients with 46,XX and 46,XY disorders of sex development

Disorders of sex development (DSD) result from abnormalities in the complex process of sex determination and differentiation. An important consideration to guide the assignment of social sex in newborns with ambiguous genitalia is the quality of life (QoL) of these patients in adulthood. The rarity of most DSD conditions makes it difficult to conduct a long-term follow-up of affected patients through adulthood. This review of papers on the QoL of DSD patients evaluated in developing and developed countries by qualitative and quantitative instruments revealed a large spectrum of QoL, ranging from very poor to similar to, or even better than, the normal population. A more adequate QoL was found in patients from tertiary centres, indicating that the medical care of DSD patients should be multidisciplinary and carried out by specialized teams.

Quality of life in a large cohort of adult Brazilian patients with 46,XX and 46,XY disorders of sex development from a single tertiary centre

OBJECTIVE

Few studies have focused on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). Our aim was to evaluate QoL in DSD patients with defined diagnoses followed until adulthood in a single tertiary centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult patients with DSD (56 patients with 46,XX DSD - 49 with female social sex and 7 with male social sex as well as 88 patients with 46,XY DSD - 54 with female social sex and 34 with male social sex).

MEASUREMENTS

QoL using WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire.

RESULTS

Both patients with 46,XX DSD and patients with 46,XY DSD had similar QoL scores on the WHOQOL-Bref, comparable to the scores of the Brazilian general population. The chronological age at the start of treatment was negatively and significantly associated with general QoL score. Patients with male social sex DSD had better scores on the psychological domain than patients with female social sex DSD, as found in the Brazilian general population. In addition, among the 46,XY DSD group, the male social sex patients had better QoL compared with the female social sex patients. There was a positive and significant correlation between sexual performance and general QoL, although it explained only 4% of the variability of the general QoL score. The most influencing variables were general health, positive feelings and spirituality, religion and personal beliefs, each of them contributing with 18% of the variability of the general QoL score.

CONCLUSION

Our large cohort of adult patients with DSD, which was followed by a multidisciplinary team in a single tertiary centre, had good QoL in adulthood; in addition, late treatment compromised the QoL of patients with DSD, whereas sexual performance has little influence on QoL.

Quality of life, social situation, and sexual satisfaction, in adult males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

To determine quality of life (QoL) in adult males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH males with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (n = 30), 19-67 years old, were compared with controls (n = 32). QoL was assessed using questionnaires on general living conditions and sexual issues, and the psychological well-being index (PGWB) form. Fewer CAH males than controls were students (3 vs. 25 %, P = 0.028) and more had blue-collar work (57 vs. 33 %, P = 0.023). Patients were less interested in sports (47 vs. 72 %, P = 0.034) and art/literature/film (10 vs. 47 %, P = 0.004). PGWB total score was 82.7 ± 13.7 versus 87.0 ± 11.1 (P = NS), but hydrocortisone/cortisone acetate treated scored lower than controls and prednisolone treated. Glucocorticoid over-treated had lower QoL than those with poor control (PGWB total score 77.1 ± 13.5 vs. 92.4 ± 11.1, P = 0.026) and controls (P = 0.025). Total PGWB score was positively correlated with adrenal androgens and steroid precursors. Subscale scores indicated that patients with late diagnosis were more depressive (12.1 ± 2.8 vs. 13.9 ± 1.4, P = 0.011) and had a lower self-control (11.3 ± 3.6 vs. 13.1 ± 1.0, P = 0.019) compared with controls. Sexual satisfaction was similar in spite of more patients being sexually inactive (27 vs. 6 %, P = 0.040). Adult CAH males differed from controls with respect to type of occupation and spare time interests but had similar QoL despite being less sexually active. Optimizing glucocorticoid therapy might further improve QoL. Some disadvantages found in patients diagnosed late will hopefully not be seen in patients diagnosed by neonatal screening, but this has yet to be studied.

Suboptimal psychosocial outcomes in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: epidemiological studies in a nonbiased national cohort in Sweden

CONTEXT

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), CYP21A2 deficiency, results in cortisol and aldosterone deficiency and increased production of androgens, with a good genotype phenotype correlation.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the investigation was to study psychosocial outcomes in relation to clinical severity, CYP21A2 genotype, in men and women.

DESIGN

This was an epidemiological study with a matched case control design.

SETTING

The setting of the study was all known CAH patients in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Five hundred eighty-eight patients, more than 80% with known severity of CAH, and 100 controls per patient matched for sex, year, and place of birth participated in the study.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

Proxies for quality of life were selected: level of education, employment, income, sick leave, disability pension, marriage, and children.

RESULTS

Women with salt-wasting (SW) CAH had completed primary education less often [odds ratio (OR) 0.3], not explained by neonatal salt crisis or hypoglycemia because the men did not differ from controls. Men and women in the less severe I172N genotype group were more likely to have an academic education (OR 1.8). SW women were more likely to have an income in the top 20th percentile (OR 2.0). Both men and women had more disability pension (OR 1.5) and sick leave (OR 1.7). The men more often had long-lasting employment (OR 3.1). Men were more often (OR 1.6) and women were less often married (OR 0.7). Patients had children less often (OR 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows important outcome differences regarding education; employment; marriage and fertility, depending on sex; and severity of CAH. The mechanisms behind this and the increased risk for sick leave or disability pension in both men and women should be identified to improve medical and psychological care.

Increased psychiatric morbidity in men with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency

CONTEXT

Reports on psychiatric morbidity in males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to study psychiatric disorders in CAH males.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We studied males with CAH (21-hydroxylase deficiency, n = 253; CYP21A2 mutations known, n = 185), and compared them with controls (n = 25 300). Data were derived through linkage of national population-based registers. We assessed the subgroups of CYP21A2 genotype separately (null, I2splice, I172N, P30L, and NC), as well as outcomes before and after the introduction of national neonatal screening in 1986.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Psychiatric disorders including attempted and completed suicide (suicidality) were reviewed.

RESULTS

Psychiatric disorders (suicidality not included), suicidality, and alcohol misuse were increased in CAH males compared with controls (odds ratios, 1.5, 2.3, and 1.9; 95% confidence intervals, 1.1-2.2, 1.1-5.0, and 1.0-3.5, respectively). In the null genotype group, no increased rates were seen; in the I2splice group, psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, and alcohol misuse were increased; in the I172N group, suicide attempt and drug misuse were increased; and in the P30L and NC groups, psychotic disorders were increased. In CAH males born before the neonatal screening, the rates of psychiatric disorders and suicidality were increased, but only psychotic disorders increased in those born afterward. There was no increased risk for any neurodevelopmental disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

CAH males have an increased psychiatric morbidity. Psychiatric morbidity was not raised in the most severe genotype group. Late diagnosis of CAH may explain some of the findings. Those born before the introduction of neonatal screening were more affected, which may be explained by the higher age.

Research on quality of life in female patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and issues in developing nations

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is the commonest cause of ambiguous genitalia for female newborns and is one of the conditions under the umbrella term of "Disorders of Sex Development" (DSD). Management of these patients require multidisciplinary collaboration and is challenging because there are many aspects of care, such as the most appropriate timing and extent of feminizing surgery required and attention to psychosexual, psychological, and reproductive issues, which still require attention and reconsideration, even in developed nations. In developing nations, however, additional challenges prevail: poverty, lack of education, lack of easily accessible and affordable medical care, traditional beliefs on intersex, religious, and cultural issues, as well as poor community support. There is a paucity of long-term outcome studies on DSD and CAH to inform on best management to achieve optimal outcome. In a survey conducted on 16 patients with CAH and their parents in a Malaysian tertiary center, 31.3% of patients stated poor knowledge of their condition, and 37.5% did not realize that their medications were required for life. This review on the research done on quality of life (QOL) of female patients with CAH aims: to discuss factors affecting QOL of female patients with CAH, especially in the developing population; to summarize the extant literature on the quality of life outcomes of female patients with CAH; and to offer recommendations to improve QOL outcomes in clinical practice and research.

Psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Sexual Quality of Life Scale among women

INTRODUCTION.: Female sexual dysfunction has a known impact on the quality of life. AIM.: The purpose of this study was the translation and validation of an Iranian version of the Sexual Quality of Life questionnaire-Female (SQOL-F) in Iranian women. METHODS.: A population sample of N = 2,675 women aged 17-67 years from Qazvin City of Iran and two clinical population samples (women with sexual dysfunctions N = 295 and women with type 2 diabetes N = 449) participated in the study. A self-constructed demographic questionnaire, the SQOL-F, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used for data collection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES.: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined. Correlations between the SQOL-F, SF-36, and FSFI were assessed with convergent validity. Furthermore, known-groups comparison analysis was conducted to compare differences in SQOL-F scores between healthy women and those with sexual problems and diabetes. Confirmatory factor analysis assessed the factor structure of the SQOL-F. RESULTS.: Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.84 to 0.98. Significant correlations between the SQOL-F, SF-36, and FSFI scores were found (ranging from r = 0.4 to r = 0.72). The SQOL-F scores were significantly different between women with and without a clinical condition (P < 0.05). A unifactorial model provided the best fit to the data. CONCLUSION.: The questionnaire represents a suitable measure to assess sexuality-related quality of life to sexual function in healthy women, as well as in women suffering from a chronic medical condition. Application of the scale to other clinical samples needs to be further explored.

Disorders of sex development: summaries of long-term outcome studies

Existing outcomes for DSD individuals are inadequate because reports are based upon information collected retrospectively. This paper is presented to review existing data emphasizing information needed to lead to better future care, is based on presentations and discussions at a multi-disciplinary meeting on DSD held in Annecy in 2012, and is not intended to define the present status of management of each of the various DSD diagnoses. Rather it is intended to provide information needed to do studies regarding outcome data from the treatment of children with DSD by providing a summary of recommendations of 'patient-centered' topics that need investigation. The hope is that by being concerned with what is not known, new protocols will be developed for improving both early management and transition to adult life.

Physical, social and societal functioning of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and their parents, in a Dutch population

BACKGROUND

Most research concerning congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and related conditions caused by primary adrenal insufficiency, such as Addison's or Cushing's disease, has focused on medical aspects rather than on patients' quality of life. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the physical, social and societal functioning of children with CAH and their parents in a Dutch population.

METHODS

The study is descriptive and cross-sectional. Self-designed questionnaires, based on questionnaires developed in the Netherlands for different patient groups, were sent to parents of children with CAH between 0 and 18 years old. Participants were recruited through the Dutch patient group for Adrenal Disease (NVACP) and six hospitals in the Netherlands. Three different questionnaires were designed for parents: for children aged 0 - 4, aged 4 - 12 and aged 12 - 18. Additionally, a fourth questionnaire was sent to adolescents with CAH aged 12 - 18. Main outcome measures were experienced burden of the condition, self-management and participation in several areas, such as school and leisure time.

RESULTS

A total of 106 parents returned the questionnaire, 12 regarding pre-school children (0-4 years), 63 regarding primary school children (4-12 years), and 32 regarding secondary school children (12-18 years), combined response rate 69.7%. Also, 24 adolescents returned the questionnaire. Children and adolescents with CAH appear to be capable of self-management at a young age. Experienced burden of the condition is low, although children experience several health related problems on a daily basis. Children participate well in school and leisure time. Few children carry a crisis card or emergency injection with them.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our research shows that, according to their parents, children with CAH experience few negative effects of the condition and that they participate well in several areas such as school and leisure time. However, improvements can be made concerning the measures parents and children must take to prevent an adrenal crisis.

Adult women with 21-hydroxylase deficient congenital adrenal hyperplasia, surgical and psychological aspects

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to a CYP21A2 deficiency results in prenatal androgen exposure and virilization of the external genitalia. The surgical procedures, indications, timing, and methods used have come under debate during the past decade. The androgen effect on later behaviors adds to the complexity of the situation for these women. The purpose of this review is to update physicians on recent findings regarding the outcome of feminizing surgery, infertility, quality of life (QoL), and psychosexual aspects in women with CAH.

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical outcome, also for the more modern techniques used today, has not been entirely satisfactory and QoL assessments paint a dark picture. All psychological effects assessed show a spectrum of severity correlating with the CYP21A2 genotype or disease severity. The prevailing recommendation for sex of rearing is to let all patients with the 46,XX karyotype grow up as girls. This notion has now been challenged regarding patients with the most extreme virilization of genitalia.

SUMMARY

There are large differences in outcome depending on the severity of the disease or CYP21A2 mutation. Care needs to be individualized and centralized to specialized multidisciplinary teams. Feminizing surgery is still not satisfactory for all patients. More studies regarding sex identity are needed.