Teen, 18, bombarded by vile comments from older men after sharing rare diagnosis
An A-level student has told how she was bombarded by disgusting comments from older men after plucking up the courage to speak out about her rare diagnosis.
Elsie Slaats, from Norwich, found out that she had MRKH - a congenital malformation characterised by the failure of the uterus and vaginal canal to develop - when she was 16 and had not started her period.
Since her diagnosis, she has been undergoing dilation treatment, which involves inserting an instrument into the vagina to lengthen it and make sexual activity more comfortable.
The 18-year-old has bravely shared her journey to her 33,700 followers on TikTok but now has to deal with men, who are often much older than she is, sexualising her condition and asking her if she's "tight".
However, she refuses to let the vile comments stop her from raising awareness about the condition.
Greggs, Costa & Pret coffees have 'huge differences in caffeine', says report
The 18-year-old pictured in hospital (mediadrumimages/@mrkhwithels)
Elsie has bravely shared her journey to her 33,700 followers on TikTok (mediadrumimages/@elsieslaats.x)Elsie, who goes by the handle @mrkhwithels, said: "As a young girl, these kinds of comments were off-putting; especially when I was trying to create content to raise awareness.
"Luckily, I'm quite level-headed and I don't let comments get to me.
"I am very proud of succeeding with my dilatation therapy. It was difficult for me to remain consistent as it wasn't the most comfortable or pleasant process, but I found ways of relaxing to make it easier.
"I'm also proud of how I've dealt with this diagnosis and the impact I’ve had on girls in similar situations to me.
"I've met so many great people through my TikTok, and on my bad days, reading the positive messages and comments that I receive makes me feel so much better.
"It reminds me why I started the account in the first place."
Elsie went to the GP after growing concerned over her lack of period and the fact that she felt she "hadn't developed in the way that most girls had".
Elsie refuses to let the vile comments stop her from raising awareness about the condition (mediadrumimages/@elsieslaats.x)
Elsie, from Norwich, pictured at her prom (mediadrumimages/@elsieslaats.x)After doing some research, she initially suspected that she had an imperforate hymen - a condition where a hymen without an opening obstructs the vagina.
But further tests, including scans and an MRI, revealed that she had MRKH which, unlike an imperforate hymen, is incurable.
Elsie said: "This was an emotional time for 16-year-old me, leaving me feeling unsure about the future and how my life would now be affected.
'I tricked my sister into giving her baby a stupid name - she had it coming'
"The prospect of having MRKH was quite a shock to both me and my mum.
"Going about my daily routine carrying such heavy emotions around was challenging for me, but the support of my close friends and family was crucial at that time.
"It can make relationships difficult, but not because anyone has ever discriminated against me for my condition. It's more due to my insecurities.
"Sometimes I worry that I can't give people the same as other girls can.
"It can be hard for me to feel 100% confident in myself and I'll fall into the trap of comparing myself to others which can strain my relationships if it comes across as jealousy or distrust in a partner."
Elsie Slaats found out that she had MRKH when she was 16 (mediadrumimages/@elsieslaats.x)Despite the challenges she faces, Elsie has not given up hope of having a family of her own one day.
"As a young woman, coming to terms with not being able to get pregnant was very difficult for me," Elsie said.
"The way I fight these feelings is by remembering the support around me, as well as thanking my body for the things it can do for me.
"MRKH doesn’t affect my ovaries, meaning my egg cells can be extracted in order for a surrogate mother to carry a child for me.
"Although this is different to how I originally planned my life to go, I feel grateful that I could still have a child which is biologically mine.
"Researching surrogacy and adoption is something important for me, but given that I’m still so young, I feel as though I should enjoy these years of my life and worry about the logistics of having children later on."
Elsie is also determined to continue with her advocacy and raise awareness for MRKH.
She said: "I wish MRKH was more talked about in general. Although there is a strong, tight-knit community of MRKHers who support one another, the wider public isn't as educated.
"It tends to be assumed that every girl has a period, every girl will go on to have a family, etc, which isn't actually the case.
"MRKH will always be a big part of my life and will change many aspects of it.
"But I am still a woman, and I hope anyone else diagnosed with this or something similar can come to this conclusion."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
