MRKH Connect, the charity that provides a safe space for everyone with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome to learn more about the condition and feel supported, has been awarded National Lottery funding to provide a series of sessions designed to educate and help young women who have recently been diagnosed.

MRKH is a congenital condition that affects around 1 in 5000 female births and is a disorder of reproductive development leading to the absence (or underdevelopment) of the uterus, cervix, and the shortening of the vagina.

Diagnosis often happens during puberty, which can be a confusing and challenging time in anyone’s life. But to be confronted with this reality and not really understand what it means, what might happen and how it will affect the rest of their lives can be a terrifying experience.

Director of MRKH Connect, Charlotte Bishop explains more: “We are delighted that we have been granted funding to make our Youth Program a reality after a successful pilot in 2022.  We know first-hand how important support is following diagnosis but that access to or finding that support is not always easy.”

“This, first of its kind youth led psychosocial-educational program is designed to promote wellbeing and mental health in a relaxed and non-medical environment whilst providing those participating, the opportunity to move towards a better acceptance with MRKH, develop strategies to set personal and meaningful goals and build new friendships along the way.” 

The sessions will be run by Cerys Pearce-Dunne who discovered she had MRKH when she was seventeen years old. In the time that followed her diagnosis, Cerys found that there was very little help for young people like her, at a time when they needed it most.

This is why Cerys hopes to help make a change in the MRKH community and create a safe space for other newly diagnosed young people to come too.

MRKH Connect will use its extensive social media networks to advertise the availability of these sessions and work with specialist MRKH centres to ensure that attendees are able to apply.

To learn more about the work that MRKH Connect does for the MRKH community please visit www.mrkhconnect.org or contact us on info@mrkhconnect.org