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Appearance and sexual development


Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) isn't usually diagnosed at birth because the genitals look normal for a girl, but the condition may be picked up if the child gets a hernia.

Hernias are where an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the surrounding tissue. They can occur in babies with CAIS if the testicles fail to move from the tummy into the scrotum.



Read more about the symptoms of AIS and types of AIS.

Tests and scans

If AIS is suspected, blood tests can be used to:

An ultrasound scan can also be used to confirm the absence of the womb and ovaries. Children with AIS often have female genitals, but no female internal reproductive organs.


Testing family members and unborn babies



There are 2 main tests that can be carried out during pregnancy to determine whether a baby has the condition:


It's also important to be aware that the risk of miscarriage after CVS and amniocentesis is estimated to be about 0.5 to 1%. This means 1 in every 100 to 200 women will have a miscarriage after having CVS or amniocentesis.