Psychological distress in women with uterovaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, MRKH).

BACKGROUND

Uterovaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome; MRKH) is a congenital nonformation of the vagina and the uterus, but with normal ovaries.

OBJECTIVE

The authors investigated the psychological impact of this disorder, about which very little is known.

METHOD: A group of 66 women with MRKH were compared with 31 control-group women on a range of self-rating scales assessing psychological distress and self-esteem.

RESULTS

Women with MRKH had significantly more pathological scores on some of the scales and subscales, such as phobic anxiety and psychoticism (interpersonal alienation), with a similar trend for subscales measuring depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

MRKH has a lasting negative impact on affected women's level of psychological distress and self-esteem.