Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) can usually be
diagnosed at birth because the genitals are visibly different.
Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is often not
diagnosed at birth and is recognised later. Many children with
CAIS are diagnosed early in life when their testes cause
hernias. A hernia is where an internal part of the body, such as
an organ, pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding
tissue wall. When the hernias are operated on, the testes are
discovered coincidentally and CAIS is diagnosed. If a girl with
CAIS does not develop a hernia, the condition may not be
diagnosed until puberty, when her periods do not start and a
lack of pubic and underarm hair becomes apparent. Breast
development will be normal in these girls as the high
testosterone level is converted to oestrogen. Tests and scans If
androgen insensitivity syndrome is suspected, blood tests can be
used to measure the person's sex hormone levels. An ultrasound
scan can also be carried out to confirm