{
  "id": 3165909,
  "title": "I was too young to understand infertility when diagnosed at 16",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/i-was-too-young-to-understand-infertility-when-diagnosed-at-16",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-25T02:05:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-25/the-weight-of-an-infertility-diagnosis-in-your-teens/106993346"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At sixteen, Laura Fairlie was told she would never be able to carry a child. The diagnosis came after an ultrasound revealed her uterus was missing. MRKH is a rare condition affecting one in five thousand female births. Laura's period arrived late, causing her to question her health. She had to perform dilation, a painful procedure to stretch her vagina. Laura's diagnosis led to years of grief and depression, affecting her relationships and sex life. Despite the challenges, Laura met her partner at twenty-one and they discussed surrogacy. However, further tests revealed her uterus was too small to function. Laura froze her eggs, but two months later, an MRI showed her uterus was too small to be functional. Despite the setback, Laura remains hopeful and is preparing for the long journey ahead.",
  "summary": "I was only 16 when told I would never be able to carry a child. Ten years later, there was some hope.",
  "key_points": [
    "Laura Fairlie diagnosed with infertility at 16 due to MRKH syndrome",
    "Uterus missing, causing years of grief and depression",
    "Met partner at 21, discussed surrogacy, but uterus too small for surrogacy"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Laura's early diagnosis of a rare reproductive condition has profoundly impacted her life, but she remains hopeful and is exploring options like surrogacy and freezing her eggs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}