Susan A.Hi Tea, I was diagnosed at age 19. I too was worried - my endo said I might not be able to have kids (at that time I didn’t want to anyway). I had no periods at the time either since I have a more serious mutation of the possible LOCAH mutations (then I got on steroids and my cycles were fine after that). My endo was wrong though about me having kids. I had my daughter when I was 27 (didn’t start trying until I was married at age 25). I didn’t use birth control the whole time I was married though (8 years) and didn’t get pregnant again. Though of course I was nursing almost 3 of those years and was pregnant for one of those years.
My daughter is now 20 - your age. Really CAH has not done much to change my life... I do everything I would have done. I can hike, camp, work 12 hour days if I want... everything a "normal" person can. I’m a teacher and can put up with the stress of a classroom of 5th graders every day as well. The only difference that I can come up with is that I am stressed more easily, I need to stress dose when under a lot of physical or emotional stress, and heat bothers me. The other stuff is so normal now I don’t even think of it. I do have more empathy for other people now.... but CAH is not the end of the world.
Feel free to e-mail me if you like.
You will be fine. It’s just getting over the initial shock.