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23-year-old Devan Merck learned 11 years ago that she was born without a vagina, as well as a misshaped uterus and cervix. Devan suffers from Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, a condition where the female reproductive system isn’t fully formed in some patients.
In spite of all this, Devan knew she wanted more than anything else to be able to have her own children — even though it seemed biologically impossible.
This wasn’t the only struggle Devan went through growing up.
In all of her relationships, Devan felt scared to open up to her then-boyfriend about her condition. Many relationships ended soon after she told them that she didn’t have a vagina. She explained, a little sadly, “Boyfriends would disappear when they realized I wouldn’t have sex.”
When Devan was 16, doctors performed a surgery to “create a vaginal canal” for her. They removed the skin covering her vaginal opening and reconstructed her vagina so its walls weren’t fused together.
The surgery was ultimately a success, but for many years, Devan still struggled to find a boyfriend who wouldn’t leave once they found out her vagina was “man-made” – let alone try to start a family with them.
But then Devan met Trent Merck, the man who would eventually become her husband.
Not only did Trent not balk or flinch at Devan’s news, but he has said, “I am very proud of Devan. I know that this condition is really difficult emotionally and I am just glad I am here to support her. Sometimes she gets down and everything but I mean she always looks forward.
“I think she feels guilty about it but I never want her to feel that way and I don't hold it against her ever. I love her no matter what.”
The couple have been together for about five years, and are now hoping to start a family.
Devan recently went to a gynecologist and discovered, with immense relief, that her ovaries were intact. It may be possible for her to have a biological child with the help of a surrogate.
The Merck family is hoping that they’ll be able to welcome their first child into the world in a year’s time, but they know that until then, everything will have to be taken just one step at a time.
You can watch a news feature on Devan and her husband here:
