Video: Woman Born Without Vagina Hopes to Soon Become a Mother

Devan Merck was born with no vagina, but now — after a few successful operations — the 23-year-old Georgia woman is hopeful she can soon become a mother.

At age 12, Devan realized she had been born with no vaginal canal, no cervix, and a maligned uterus. Doctors diagnosed her with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome — a condition apparently affecting over 5,000 women.

Merck had her uterus removed and then, several years later, underwent an operation giving her a “man-made” vagina. Doctors built her a vaginal canal with skin they grafted form her bottom. She was then forced to wear a foam insert inside her vagina for several months so that her newly created canal wouldn’t fuse back up.

Finally, however, she was able to have sex.

Devan has found a partner and, more recently, doctors discovered she has working ovaries. Now she’s hopeful that, with the help of a surrogate, she may one day be able to have a baby.

Watch a video about Devan’s experience (above).