Introduction:

Although in women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the achievement of normal gonadal function and fertility requires strict adherence to substitution treatment, this is not always sufficient and some degree of ovarian hyperandrogenism appears with a negative effect, which is evident since adolescence.

Objective:

To characterize some factors related to sexual and reproductive health in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and assigned as female.

Methods:

A cross-sectional and observational-descriptive study was carried out, including all female-assigned patients with a diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and who were treated at the Institute of Endocrinology from 2000 to 2019. The study explored demographic aspects, family history, as well as aspects related to sexual and reproductive health

Results:

The sample was made up of 47 patients, with current mean age of 14.76 ± 7.04 years and average age for starting treatment of 5.9 years. Predominance of classic clinical forms was verified in 25 patients (53.19 %), while 22 patients (46.80 %) presented nonclassical forms. Some degree of genital virilization manifested in 22 patients; of this group, 13 (59.1 %) had received genital surgery, four (8.5 %) received clitoroplasty at mean age of 2.8 ± 0.8 years, and nine (19, 1 %) received an approach combined with vaginoplasty. Of the 36 patients at reproductive age, 11 (37.9 %) reported having started sexual intercourse relations at an average age of 17.8 ± 3.9 years old.

Conclusions:

It is important to consider that subfertility of women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia starts in the peripubertal years, a reason why it should be of permanent interest to the pediatric endocrinologist in order to improve their reproductive future.

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