Kaye, I read this board often and hardly post unless I have a question.  I try very hard not to get caught up in this particular debate for many reasons.  I have a daughter who is now 4 1/2, and she had a moderate case of virilization when she was born.  She actually required surgery for things other than the clitoral reduction, as her vagina and urethra came together and she was not able to urinate on her own and had many UTI's.  She was in great pain and could not eat  due to the pressure of urine built up inside of her that we were not always able to get out when we catheterized her.  She didn't sleep, cried constantly, and was too small to be put under anesthesia completely until she were 4 months old.  I just kept thinking how barbaric it was to have to lube up a tiny tube, spread her legs and stick a cold greasy catheter between her legs 8 times a day.  To watch her eat as if she hadn't eaten in months only to watch her throw it all up later.  Finally, when she was 4 months old, she was old enough to have the surgery, and when the clitoral reduction was suggested by our surgeon, my husband and I decided to do it all at once.  Many may think it is because we were afraid of what others might think about how she looked. Or that she might be uncomfortable with being "different" when she got older.  Neither was the case.  My husband and I are the ones that had to bear the burden of making that decison at the time as she could not speak for herself.  And now that my husband is deceased, that leaves me to be the one to explain it all to her when she gets older.  I often wonder what would have happened it I had left that particular surgery for when she was older........how could any parent not consider whether or not they ultimately made the right decision?  I am not going to justify my decision on this board, and I think enough has been said already.  I guess I just wanted to say that I commed you for your courage, I wish you and your child the best of luck.  Only my best thoughts and prayers are with you as I know the situation you are in all too well.  I hope that maybe soon there will be a place where those of us who have traveled down this road can discuss this issue without the topic of religion or psychology clouding the issue of medically neccessary surgical procedures.  Only time will tell whether or not my daughter will hate me later in life for the decisions I have made regarding her health.  That is between my daughter and I, and we will cross that bridge when we get there.  Good Luck Kaye!!!!!!