If you are given cortef and you really don't need it... what will happen...hmm... Cushing like symptoms... very hairy, very tired, too fat... short in statue (if a child is given too much cortef). Will it make you "turn into a girl" if you are boy?  Don't think so. Not enough cortisol... then too much male hormones... and if too much.. again... too much male hormones. Or at least there are too much with Cushing.  And never read anything about the affects not enough male hormones for when you give dex to a woman carrying a male baby. I know that I took dex with my boy babies and they didn't need it to prevent virlization if it was going to be a girl, well they were fine (they don't look or act like girls in any way... the male parts ... look very male - and one had CAH and one didn't have CAH). Again... maybe.. it is a girl being raised as a boy.... don't rule this out... stranger things do happen.. (get genetic and chromosomal tests). Virlization can be very severe. I remember one mother telling me when her non-salt wasting CAH three year (untreated) said to mother, I am turning into a boy.  Well... she still acted like a girl but physically she was looking like a boy.

Anyway... the obvious to me... is yes... get genetic testing for CAH. That would be the best solution if you ask me. It is much needed information for the child's future.  It will tell him exactly what type of CAH that he has because there are many forms of CAH. My insurance paid for genetic testing. It is just a blood test and then it is send to Dr. Maria New in Cornell University. There is a link to this testing  - click on medical site and Dr. Maria New.

Secondly.... get a good ped endo and a good regular ped doctor. If you live in a small city  - go once a year to a WELL KNOWN doctor for CAH.  Make sure they take hormonal blood levels - including the male hormones, and the 17-OHP.  Take the blood work taken EVERY three months and more often if the blood work is off (too high or too low and they need to adjust the cortef and then repeat it in two week or a month).

my two - cents - and no hurricanes for me!! Not even a drop of rain here on the east coast. It is very dry... and flash fires in some places (lucky not close to me).