What is it?
Rokitansky syndrome is a rare disease that causes changes in the uterus and vagina, causing them to be poorly developed or absent. Thus, it is common for the girl, who is born with this syndrome, to have a vaginal canal short, absent or even born without a uterus.
Usually, this syndrome is detected in adolescence, around the age of 16 years when the girl does not present menstruation or when, when initiating sexual activity, difficulties are found that impede or make difficult the intimate contact.
Rokitansky's syndrome is cured through surgery, especially in cases of malformation of the vagina. However, a woman may need assisted reproductive techniques, such as artificial insemination, to get pregnant.
Learn more about the different fertilization and assisted reproduction techniques.
Main symptoms
The signs and symptoms of Rokitansky Syndrome depend on the malformation that the woman presents, but may include:
- Absence of menstruation;
- Recurrent abdominal pain;
- Pain or difficulty in maintaining close contact;
- Difficulty getting pregnant;
- Urinary incontinence;
- Frequent urinary tract infections;
- Problems in the spine, such as scoliosis.
When the woman has these symptoms she should consult a gynecologist to do a pelvic ultrasound and diagnose the problem, starting the appropriate treatment.
Rokitansky's syndrome may also be known as Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome or Müllerian Agenesis.
How to treat
Treatment for Rokitansky's syndrome should be directed by a gynecologist, but usually includes the use of surgery to correct malformations in the vagina or to transplant the uterus in case the woman decides to become pregnant.
However, in milder cases, the doctor may only recommend the use of vaginal plastic dilators that stretch the vaginal canal, allowing the woman to maintain intimate contact properly.
After the treatment, it is not guaranteed that the woman can become pregnant, however, in some cases with the use of techniques of assisted reproduction it is possible that the woman becomes pregnant.
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