MRKH, or Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, is the failure of the uterus and the vagina to develop properly in women, despite a normal ovarian function and normal external genitalia. It is most often diagnosed during the teenage ages (between 15-18 years old), which might make you, as a parent, feel like you dropped the ball when it comes to your daughter’s care.
Dr. Miklos and Dr. Moore are world leaders in MRKH solutions, and want to be able to provide concerned parents with the best first steps on how to help your daughter during such a confusing time.
After being diagnosed with MRKH, your daughter is probably just as confused and concerned as you are for her own well being. The truth is that while there are several treatment options, the decision is ultimately hers. One option is waiting. When it comes down to it, your daughter has control of her own body. Deciding to make a vagina, regardless of the method, is a difficult and private choice. She should keep in mind that if sexual intercourse is something that she would like to have in the future, creating a vagina should be considered.
After a diagnosis, you as a parent may be asking yourself what you can do to help make this situation easier? Of course, scheduling an appointment with world-renowned urogynecologists Drs. Miklos and Moore is the best step to take, but here are other ways to help:
Daughter Diagnosed with MRKH – Keep Open Doors of Communication
Without a doubt, you as a parent are going to be the very first person that your daughter feels she can confide in. There’s no bad time to start a conversation about MRKH, but you probably know when the best time is to start talking about how she feels and what her options are. While some parents and daughters are okay with discussing serious situations in a spontaneous way, there are just as many duos who are more comfortable planning a special time to chat, like during a walk together, a quiet time at home, or even over lunch.
Ultimately, you know your daughter best, so using your best judgment is vital here.
Encourage Open Discussion of MRKH with Her Doctor(s)
In the same way, your daughter might find it easier to talk to a professional, like Drs. Miklos and Moore, about her condition and options. They will undoubtedly have the best and most accurate information for her, which may help her feel that MRKH is a manageable condition.
Whether or not she feels better discussing MRKH with a doctor, it is something that will need to be done, should she be considering her options. It is up to you as a parent to encourage her to make the best choices for her health. One great thing to suggest to her is that as she goes through her day, to keep a notebook of any questions or concerns she may think of for her doctors.
It might be a hard thing to realize, but it is possible that she may want to talk to her doctors alone, without you present. As frustrating as it can be, just know that you’ll be respecting her wishes and giving her the chance to be as open and honest as possible with medical professionals; you can ask them all the questions in the world on your time.
Give Her Necessary Alone Time
MRKH can feel like a private matter, and the truth is that it is! However, there is the added sense of privacy that teenagers typically want, which is usually when MRKH is diagnosed. Between these two factors, it is important to give your daughter some space and privacy to process her thoughts and even to implement treatment options, especially if she chooses to use dilators, which will require alone time to use. If she shares a bedroom with a sibling, it’s important to discreetly arrange time for your daughter to have the room to herself.
Understand that You’re Learning, Too
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with not having an answer for your daughter when she asks a question; the best way to respond if you truly don’t have an answer for her is to offer to help her research. This allows you the opportunity to teach your daughter proper researching methods, and also gets that answer. Shifting the research and focus from herself to her condition is a way to clear those lines of communication.
As a parent of a young woman with MRKH, your first instinct is to find and do the best for your child, and that’s perfectly normal behavior. Dr. Miklos and Dr. Moore are leading experts in Neovagina creation as a solution for MRKH, and also are highly knowledgeable about other options that are available. If you and your daughter are ready to take a step in the best direction possible, contact us today!