hi everyone, i just wanted to share my experience with you regarding this issue. My mother was very overprotective but she did not fully understand the condition as i was going through puberty. At around the age of 11 or 12 I was given an internal pelvic exam by my endo and I was not told what they were doing to me or why. To this day I still have difficulty seeing a ob/gyn or having an exam by any doctor when my "privates" will be looked at. I have tried to work through this with my therapistbut there is little that can be done. The doctor did not act unethically, but was just not that concerned that an 11 year old might have an issue with a male doctor feeling her genitals. I was lucky and did not have to have any surgeries and I think now that they were looking to see if I had PCOS, but all I remember was being terribly uncomfortable and scared and I do not like any genital exam now. I think that it is important that as females with CAH, if the child is old enough to know what is going on with her body then everything should be fully explained to her and that some of the decision be left up to her. I suppose that it is up to the parent to decide when your child is old enough. I suppose that my mom thought that it was no big deal at 11 but she was wrong and I have trouble forgiving both the doctor and her even today 10 years later. This message was not intended to scare anyone, I just wanted to share my experiences. Ashley