I have to agree with Danny. I do not have a daughter with CAH, I have a son. My husband and I are thinking about trying again for a girl. If I had a daughter I  really feel that intersex would not be the correct term to use. When I think of intersex I think of a person that is not either a male or female. CAH girls, from what I have read, are truly female but due to the androgens their genitals don't look quite female. Whether it be fully virilized or mildly virilized, the truth of the matter is that they are female through and through. Even if the Dr.'s can't determine what the sex is right away, because of the external view, intersex, in my opinion, should not be used. I don't know what the correct term should be. Why does there have to be a term? Why can't it just be noted in the chart or paperwork that test are being done to confirm the sex. If they have to write something in the chart they could write, along with the above sentence, "suspect some type of genetic problem. Testing being done to confirm".  If you really want to get into the nitty gritty you can argure that "genetic disorder" is not a correct term to use either. Everyone is different because of the mutations in genes. That is what makes each person unique. The only time it becomes a problem is when it causes a need for medical attention.

I also am concerned that many of the women on this board seem to be lesbians and feel that CAH has contributed to that decision. If I am incorrect in thinking this, I'm sure someone will correct me. Let me just say that I do not have anything against lesbians. I live and let live. In fact I have a good friend from college, who was in my wedding, that finally decided that she was a lesbian. I am still friends with her. Like I said, live and let live. With that said, I would be disappointed, to say the least, if my daugher would decide to be a lesbian. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't love her though.  I just would not be very happy about it.  I think the environment that one is raised in and how they are raised and the experiences that they have mold's one into the person they become, CAH or not.  I don't know all of the backgrounds of the lesbian women on the board and I am not asking for a history on all of you. I am just putting my opinion on the table.  There is no way to do a scientific study on women and CAH, Heterosexual or Homosexual? If there is a way it would be interesting to see what the results really are.

I also think that maybe all this discussion about intersex and sex change and sex identification would be better discussed in the adult board. Although we want to know what our children will face in the future, I believe that one's sexual preferance is not necessarly attributed to CAH.

Sandra