In this episode, Charlotte Bishop opens up about her rare congenital disorder, while revealing her surprising discovery of a missing and underdeveloped reproductive system and her life-changing decision with dilated therapy.

Terms used:
Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is a rare congenital disorder and abnormality of the female reproductive system. Females with MRKH are born with normal ovaries and fallopian tubes, an absent or incomplete vagina, no cervix, and either an underdeveloped uterus (uterine remnant) or no uterus at all, although external genitalia are normal. Affected females usually do not have menstrual periods due to the absent uterus. Often, the first noticeable sign of MRKH syndrome is that menstruation does not begin by age 16 (primary amenorrhea). The rare condition affects 1 in 5,000 women across the globe and renders those with the condition unable to carry children.

MRKH Syndrome Type 1, the uterus and upper vagina are abnormal, but other organs are unaffected.

MRKH Syndrome Type 2, females experience abnormalities in other organs as well (most often the fallopian tubes, and commonly the kidneys and the spine).

Dilated therapy use vaginal dilators specially designed plastic tubes which are used to create a vagina. Most women who are born without a vagina are taught how to use vaginal dilators to create a vagina.

Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

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