Reproductive Outcomes of Female Patients with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency
January 2013
in “
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
”
TLDR Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia have lower fertility, but with proper treatment, they can conceive successfully.
The 2013 review article analyzed reproductive outcomes in women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. It concluded that these women generally have reduced fertility, especially those with the classic salt-wasting type of CAH, due to factors such as androgen excess, adrenal progesterone hypersecretion, genital reconstructive surgery, secondary polycystic ovaries syndrome, and psychosexual issues. However, pregnancies in CAH women tend to be normal. The review highlighted that advancements in glucocorticoid therapy, surgical methods, and psychological support have led to improved fertility rates in women with classic CAH. It stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach from childhood to adulthood to prevent subfertility and noted that with proper management, women with CAH can successfully conceive.
