Gender-role behaviour and gender identity in girls with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Abstract Introduction Girls with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are exposed to excess fetal androgens in-utero, and often born masculinised genitalia. They conventionally reared as females, but show more “boyish” gender-role behaviour (GRB) gender-identity (GI) issues in childhood adolescence. Male-rearing is also reported mainly due delayed treatment and/or socio-cultural factors. We compared GRB/GI girls CAH healthy age matched children, explored for associations socio-demographic diagnosis/treatment related Methods GRB GI were assessed using the Gender Identity Questionnaire children (GIQC) 27 at a specialised clinic, 50 age-matched controls, exploratory-analysis based on diagnosis/treatment-related Results had lower total GIQC scores (3.29 vs. 4.04, p = < 0.001) score (3.39 4.23, 0.001), tendency (3.19 3.5, 0.08). Exploratory analysis showed no differences factors including age, degree of virilisation diagnosis surgical procedures. only subtle changes ethnicity maternal education. Discussion/conclusion managed centre ambiguous GI, which did not vary upon factors, suggesting that prenatal androgen exposure was likely contributor. Clinicians should be vigilant about increased risk gender-related problems CAH, irrespective sociocultural background despite early treatment.