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By Mayo Clinic staffCongenital adrenal hyperplasia is a family of genetic conditions affecting your adrenal glands. It can interfere with normal growth and development in children — including normal development of the genitals. It affects both males and females.
In children and adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the adrenal glands typically don't produce enough of the hormone cortisol.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia may also result in the adrenals making abnormal levels of two other classes of hormones — mineralocorticoids (for example, aldosterone) and androgens (for example, testosterone).
Although congenital adrenal hyperplasia can be life-threatening, most people with it can lead normal lives with proper treatment.
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