It was explained to me like this and I’m not sure if it is correct but I was told that 75% of people with Classical CAH are Salt-Wasters and the other 25% are Simple Virilizers. I’m not a Salt waster and I didn’t know anything about that until I read my medical records and also this web page. Both males and females can be Salt-Wasters or Simple Virilizers. Many females with CAH ( SW and SV ) don’t have any excessive virilization. There are different degrees on the Prader scale. This reminds me of what one parent posted once " I didn’t notice anything wrong until the doctor pointed it out to me."     

Excerpt from my medical records cira 1974 " On addmission her electrolyte picture was sodium 143, potassium 4.2, chloride 116, C02 15 which was hardly compatible with salt losing adrenogenital syndrome ( prior name for CAH). In addition, on 3/27/74 , she also had blood sent to the Endocrine Lab for cortisol and Dioxycorticoids. Some time later the 24-hour urine sample came back pregnantriol of 2.0, 17-ketosteroids of 6.8, 17-hydroxylase 7.2. This was felt to be consistent with a diagnosis of congenital adrenal virilizing hyperplasia with a very mild defect.

Simple virilizing doesn’t have to refer to virilizing of the genital area because many with SV CAH don’t have virilization in that area. Simple virilization is involved with male secondary characteristics such as broad shoulders and the ability to grow facial hair. I don’t want to freak any of you out but I do have sort of broad shoulders, I’m not line backer broad shouldered but more like broad shoulders of a swimmer. Yes, I have a little excessive hair and I use NAIR/ once a month but I don’t have stock in the company.

Aimee