MRKH Syndrome, a disorder that leaves women with no uterus

Have you ever heard of MRKH syndrome? This rare syndrome is found in women. Women with MRKH syndrome have a birth defect that leaves them with no uterus (uterus) like other women. For more details, consider the following explanation.

What is MRKH syndrome?

MRKH syndrome stands for Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser syndrome. This syndrome occurs in a woman's reproductive system. This condition causes the vagina, cervix (cervix), and uterus not to develop properly in a woman, or even absent at all even though the condition of the external genitals looks normal. Therefore, women who experience MRKH syndrome usually do not experience menstruation because they do not have a uterus.

One in 5,000 women can develop MRKH syndrome. That's why this syndrome is classified as rare and rarely found.

In terms of chromosomes or genetic conditions, women with MRKH syndrome have a normal chromosome pattern for women (XX, 46) and the condition of the ovaries in their bodies is also functioning normally.

There are two types of MRKH syndrome. In the first type, only the reproductive organs are affected by this syndrome. In the second type, the woman also has other abnormalities in her body. For example, the shape or position of the kidney is abnormal or one of the kidneys is not developing properly. Women with the second type of MRKH syndrome generally also have abnormalities in their spine, some have hearing problems, and some have defects in their heart organs.

How can a woman not have a uterus?

Actually, the cause of this syndrome is not known with certainty. Changes in certain genes when the baby is still in the womb are strongly suspected to be the point of this syndrome. Researchers are also still looking at how the genetic changes caused by MRKH could affect the female reproductive system to such an extent.

What is clear, this reproductive abnormality of MRKH syndrome occurs because since early pregnancy, the Mullerian ducts that should be formed do not form normally. Though this channel is the embryo of the uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and the upper part of the vagina.

Researchers are still investigating the non-formation of the Mullerianus duct. Now researchers suspect there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors in this case.

Are there any signs that mark MRKH syndrome?

Usually this syndrome becomes more pronounced at the age of 15 or 16 years. At this age girls must be wondering why they haven't had their first period yet. Therefore, the condition of MRKH syndrome is usually only diagnosed by doctors when this teenager is around 16-18 years old.

Prior to that, there are usually no suspicious or worrying features. A girl will not feel any symptoms such as pain or bleeding.

From other physical conditions such as breasts and pubic hair, it continues to grow like any other teenager. Indeed apart from that there are no special characteristics.

What tests will be done when the doctor examines them?

To make a diagnosis that a woman has MRKH syndrome or not, doctors need to do a series of tests first. Apart from asking questions about the patient, there are more serious tests to be done

Blood tests function to check the condition of the body's chromosomes, whether they are normal or if there are abnormalities. Then an ultrasound scan (USG) or MRI scan is performed. This scan is used to confirm that the vagina, uterus, and cervix are not found in a woman's body.

Can women who don't have a uterus because of MRKH syndrome have children?

Even though women with MRKH syndrome cannot get pregnant because of the absence of a uterus and vaginal canal, there is still a chance of having a child with assisted reproduction outside the uterus. For example with surrogate pregnancy with a surrogate mother. This is because the condition of the ovaries, which is the organ that produces eggs or ova in women who do not have a uterus, is still functioning properly.

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