Dear Katrina,

It’s great that you are sensitive to your daughter’s feeling in regard to this part of CAH. I understand about the need for your daughter’s one personal Endocrinologist (the one she can put a name and a face to) having to look at the area but please, please, please don’t let her become an educational prop for all the other Endocrinologists, interns, residents, medical staff. 

If they tell you it’s OK and she will not remember, they are very wrong. They think they are compassionate but their smirky smiles give it away. Trust me having two or more adults peer over you and just take a peek or touch you anywhere they want does something to your head.I acquired my medical records from that time period and they wrote that I was a happy, agreeable, chubby kid. I mean come on? Are you going to argue with people in white coats when you are that age ? Talk about manipulation on their part. They took advantage of my good nature and the only reason that I don’t hate them is that Hate is not something to do if you want to live right with GOD. Having all these people take a look made me draw into a shell and I remember withdrawing.  The fact that they are doctors? So what! they are still just men or women and to me it was being violated,  manipulated, and having any personal boundaries or dignity demolished.

Maybe, you could explain what is happening first by using a doll as an example. Even better, maybe they could give her something so she could be asleep through the whole thing.    

Good Luck,

Aimee