Elizabeth is an MRKH advocate in Nigeria, one of the first women with MRKH in Nigeria to raise awareness and form a support network. Elizabeth is 26 and was only officially diagnosed with MRKH last year. Read a short blog from Elizabeth she did for MRKH Connect here and listen to the full episode to hear her story! This Podcast is sponsored by our wonderful friends @MRKHCONNECT who are raise funds to connect, research and fund MRKH support and awareness.  Listen to our full trailer here!  Find out more about Mind Over MRKH --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Sorry about my intro, issue with the sound and will resolve ASAP! An extra special long episode because Marianne has a big story to tell. On this episode we cover: Marianne's diagnosis in the USA and in actual fact, not getting a diagnosis! Being part of the Dallas Womb Transplant trial Being pregnant and giving birth, after growing up without a womb.  Redefining Womanhood throughout the process, and becoming a Mother.  We get to meet a very special guest, her daughter Lydia. And this is a fully candid episode with minor edits for anyone considering womb transplants, picked for trials, to hear an honest, raw account of womb transplants from someone that's been through them. From her voice, not through a media lense. From her heart, not through click bate.  If you have any questions for Marianne, let us know!  This Podcast is sponsored by MRKH Connect --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Archana AKA Purbi is an MRKH warrior from India. She is the founder of Indian MRKHers Corner and MRKH India Facebook group. She is also a BYMRKH Ambassador representing India Globally. For a living she works at PepsiCo and has 13 years experience in social media analytics, consumer insights and strategic consulting with different companies and industries.  Find out more about Purbi over on Instagram @purbi_mrkh_india Sponsorship: This Podcast is receiving regular sponsorship from our friends and charity MRKH Connect.  Listen to our full intro here MRKH Connect is a UK charity designed to connect those with MRKH and provide support to those with MRKH and their families through events, resources and public outreach to raise awareness for MRKH.  Their private Members area provides a safe space for those with MRKH from all over the world to connect and share together in a safe environment and find comfort talking with those who truly understand what having MRKH is like. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Trigger warning: we discuss consent and sexual assault.   "Consider Evie your sexual pleasure fairy godmother" - Zoella  Excited to be speaking to our friend Evangeline (Evie) Plumb, she is a Digital & Creative Strategist + Sex Educator. She has a keen interest in all things pleasure, sex ed and illustration and is qualified in teaching RSE (sex education) through ACET + a proud ambassador for the youth-led charity - Fumble. Evie created Cliterally The Best in July 2020 amid the pandemic in the hope to help others who have also been failed by their sex ed (or lack of) and unlearn all the myths surrounding their bodies and sex in a shame-free way. She was also recently nominated for the Brook & SH24 NHS sexual health awards and has been featured in Forbes magazine for her mental health illustrations! She currently works full-time for the wonderfully sustainable period, sex & bladder care brand, Here We Flo and runs Cliterally The Best as a side hobby! To keep up-to-date with her latest content, follow her on the Sex Positive Instagram + checkout The Sex-Positive Blog for the latest articles. Plus after finding herself allergic to all lubes, Evie created her own all natural, water-based aloe vera lube! Check out this episode for Mind Over MRKH where Evie and Ellamae chat about all things Cliterally The Best, pleasure, orgasms, consent and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Episode 12: Joaneva is a woman with MRKH and the founder of MRKH Africa Foundation. She grew up in Kenya and this is a little about her lift with MRKH. After being diagnosed with MRKH as a 23 year old woman, Joaneva began to research MRKH and not long after diagnosis' she was helping others in Kenya to form connections and built her foundation, MRKH Africa.  Joaneva talks about how she felt utterly broken, so much so that to touch her skin would hurt - she was empty and felt alone. She tells us about how faith has healed her, along with connecting with others and climbing her own mountain of advocacy. She tells us what being a woman means to her- so much more than a body! So many beautiful, wise, words. I had shivers and tears as we spoke! Follow Joaneva here on Instagram, and find support in Africa here Sponsorship: This Podcast is receiving regular sponsorship from our friends and charity MRKH Connect.  Listen to our full intro here MRKH Connect is a UK charity designed to connect those with MRKH and provide support to those with MRKH and their families through events, resources and public outreach to raise awareness for MRKH.  Their private Members area provides a safe space for those with MRKH from all over the world to connect and share together in a safe environment and find comfort talking with those who truly understand what having MRKH is like. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

DSD stands for differences in sex development. MRKH is one type of DSD, but there are hundreds of other variations and people with different DSD (AKA Intersex) traits. Listen in to learn a bit about different types of DSD's and check out the resources below to learn more.  On this episode Ellamae speaks to Gabs and Esme who manage the Instagram community and support page for all types of DSD's called @yourpace.dsd which is managed by U.K. Charity and the most in depth resource for all types of DSD's - DSD Families.  https://www.dsdfamilies.org/charity  Gabs has MRKH and Esme has CAIS Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, they are working to ensure no one with a DSD feels alone and we can't thank these two DSD warriors enough for coming on to share their personal stories. They work they do is so admirable and I am so glad to have had them on the Pod. Gabs shares what it has been like having a DSD (MRKH Syndrome) and being a black female, she says there has been an additional stigma growing up and lots more representation is needed in the DSD community as to make sure no one feels alone, you must be able to find someone that looks like you so her involvement in advocacy and feeling part of a bigger community after joining with DSD families is so lovely to hear about. Esme shares with us her story of knowing she had a DSD her whole life, she talks about the surgery she had when she was born to growing with confidence as a young girl with CAIS - through relationships, friendships, mental health and more!  Please note- as I am not a medical expert if I have incorrectly explained anything on this Pod please get in touch [email protected] and please use DSD families website as your medical resource. Our Podcast is to raise awareness, chat informally and ensure no body feels alone but we are not a medical podcast.  To learn more:  CAIS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/androgen-insensitivity-syndrome/ MRKH https://www.mindovermrkh.org/mrkhanatomy https://www.mrkh.org.uk/mrkh.html  Turners syndrome https://tss.org.uk/  Other DSD's: https://www.dsdfamilies.org/charity   Sponsorship:  This Podcast is receiving regular sponsorship from our friends and charity MRKH Connect.  Listen to our full intro here MRKH Connect is a UK charity designed to connect those with MRKH and provide support to those with MRKH and their families through events, resources and public outreach to raise awareness for MRKH.  Their private Members area provides a safe space for those with MRKH from all over the world to connect and share together in a safe environment and find comfort talking with those who truly understand what having MRKH is like. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

 Anri Labuschagne is 23 years old from South Africa and was diagnosed with MRKH in 2018! She is the founder of @mrkhsouthafrica and co-founder of @mrkhpartners! She is currently in her last year of her legal studies while still running the MRKH SA page! Anri is a coffee addict and her  favourite show is friends! Support our Podcast here mindovermrkh.org - subscribe to our news letter, check out our donations page, free events and shop! This Podcast is receiving regular sponsorship from our friends and charity MRKH Connect.  Listen to our full intro here MRKH Connect is a UK charity designed to connect those with MRKH and provide support to those with MRKH and their families through events, resources and public outreach to raise awareness for MRKH.  Their private Members area provides a safe space for those with MRKH from all over the world to connect and share together in a safe environment and find comfort talking with those who truly understand what having MRKH is like --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Welcome to the MRKH Podcast, Mind Over MRKH. MRKH affects 1 in 5000 female births, listen in to learn, connect, and be comforted by the MRKH warriors and community supporters we'll be joined by. We are a creative, resourceful, story telling and self explorative hub for all things Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser Syndrome.  Those with this condition have varying underdevelopment of the reproductive system. So born without or with an underdeveloped womb, cervix and vagina, usually ovaries are present and female chromosomes. (But doesn't mean to say everyone with MRKH identifies as a woman) I'm Ellamae, I'm 29 and I was diagnosed with MRKH at 16. I am the founder and director of Va Va Womb (even though I was born without a womb) and Mind Over MRKH, I am your Podcast Host and producer - joined by MRKH warriors, friends and experts globally- to tell their stories, have their voice heard and ensure the next person diagnosed with MRKH feels less alone in their experiences. We'll be talking all things MRKH from mental health, to dealing with this new diagnosis, sex, relationships,  fertility, living child free or child less, pleasure, self acceptance, vaginal dilating and more. Find out ways you can support the work we do over on mindovermrkh.org including our future magazine, creative events, gift boxes for MRKHers that we aim to package for the next person being diagnosed  and check out our online shop too! This Podcast is receiving regular sponsorship to keep us going strong  from our wonderful friends and U.K. Charity MRKH Connect, MRKH Connect is a UK charity designed to connect those with MRKH and provide support them and their families through events, resources and public outreach to raise awareness.  Their private Members area provides a safe space for those with MRKH from all over the world to connect and share together in a safe environment and find comfort talking with those who truly understand what having MRKH is like. We hope as one  big MRKH Family to continue to raise funds collectively to support those diagnosed with this life changing condition that can bring so much pain and so much grief, - we just want you to know that it will also come with a fiercely magical, loyal and loving community of people just like you - you are not alone. We hope this podcast keeps you company. and if you'd like to get involved do get in touch because your story matters. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Sofie Rask Jensen is an MRKH advocate from Denmark on TikTok. Here she hopes to share all aspects of what it’s like to live with MRKH, while also trying to educate people on what MRKH is. She started posting during march of last year and already in may she had two tiktoks go viral. Ever since, she has grown a following of almost 80.000  people wanting to learn more about MRKH. Besides her TikTok, she is also a part of the MRKH stars team as one of their writers and is also part of their Tik Tok. Note from Mind Over MRKH - SO SORRY LISTENERS I've been away so PLEASE don't worry this is a temporary intro (I wanted to keep the Pod going but haven't been in the company of my trusted mic! So many improvements are coming as we now have a brand spanking new sponsorship from MRKH Connect which will enable better software for this Pod! Thanks for our sponsorship MRKH Connect, you ROCK. Donate to MRKH Connect here Buy a gift for a young person with MRKH in the U.K. here Contribute directly to Mind Over MRKH and the work we are doing here  Join the WARRIORSHIP and get post from us! Check out our MRKH Shop #mrkhsyndrome #mrkh #infertility --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message

Tech note- Apologies from Ellamae my sound was quite overbearing and we couldn't figure out how to ensure we could increase the volume of the wonderful Janay - so feel free to turn down the volume when I talk and get it as loud as you can for Janay! We will definitely be recording more together. Insightful, strong-willed, and free spirited are just a few words to describe our next guest, Janay Cook Janay hails from the original ‘Wakanda’ known affectionately as the college of love and charity: Florida A&M University, where she studied journalism. She’s an MRKH advocate, former news producer and content strategist. But she considers her greatest accomplishments as being a big sister to her younger brothers, Andre and Desmond. Diagnosed during her senior year of high school, Janay made a decision to completely educate herself on her condition. Finding few places to learn and connect with women of color who shared her experience, she founded Sistahs Surviving Infertility in 2018. For the past 13 years, she has used her story to inspire and encourage others to live out their truth. She's a proud mom of two cats and five plants, but hopes to carry her own children one day. Janay joins us from Tampa, Florida AND ... today, she's celebrating her MRKHversary! ....  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindovermrkh/message