Hi to all,

Could I just personally encourage everyone on this topic of pregnancy, should anyone else go down this track?!

At this point in time, I am two months into my second pregnancy.  Each month (from 2mths) of my first pregnancy my endo and I had blood tests done to check on my hormone levels through pregnancy and to have information so that eventually, maybe someone will have some sufficient information for others to learn from.  I am just about to discuss this again and, whilst I would not have any tests done that would put my pregnancy at risk, I feel that my pregnancy does not only belong to me. 

CAH has a strike-rate in the community of about 1:10000, given about half of these are male, the available females for study are about 1:20000 and given that maybe half of these may have children, there are only about 1:40000 pregnancies that can be monitored for the sake of helping those younger than ourselves and the endocrine field to better understand what happens during pregnancy, how to aid fertility in those with CAH etc.  The only way to improve treatments for the future is through research and for this they need willing participants to provide information.  For me, this, so far, has only involved a blood test each month and who hasn't had plenty of those?!

My message is just for those particularly within Australia, but if anyone else reads this as well OS, to give consideration to, if you decide to fall pregnant and do so successfully, discuss with your endocrinologist the merits of a simple blood test each month so that we can get as much information as possible from different people that follow different treatment regimes, different ages, different ranges of hormonal control.....  It all means that our children (because they all essentially belong to us all don't they?  We have a responsibility to make life easier for those that follow us by providing accessibility to better treatment.) have the possibility of better treatments, better management, more choice in their own lives.

The future of treating and living with CAH is not just controlled by parents of children with it or doctors.  We, as those with it, can have a huge impact on the success of treatments and the future that those children may enjoy. 

I hope you will give this some thought, to those that it may apply to.

Lilea