Filmmaker Shares Personal Impact of Womb-Absence Diagnosis

When Rebecca Walshe, a resident of Bromsgrove, was 16, she received a diagnosis of Mayer-Rokitanksy-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), a condition she stated caused her to doubt her sense of self. MRKH primarily impacts the reproductive system, characterized by women being born either without a vagina and uterus or with these organs incompletely developed. This filmmaker, who was born without a womb, has since produced a short film aimed at increasing understanding of the uncommon condition. “To be told I haven’t got a womb and not be able to carry my own child, was really upsetting for me,” she said. “It’s had a mental impact in my life, and when I was 16 I didn’t really understand my gender identity. I questioned myself and thought what am I? I didn’t know how to process the information.” The NHS reports that MRKH impacts 1 in every 5,000 women. Individuals are born with this condition, yet a diagnosis may not occur until their teenage years; it is classified as a congenital abnormality. Ms Walshe characterized her film, named Four Letters, as depicting the experience of a character who discovers they have been diagnosed with the condition. “I want to raise awareness and be a source [of information] for people who have MRKH,” she said. “Also it’s for people who are struggling with something different – it might not be MRKH, but that idea of feeling different and singled out.” Audiences can follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.