Jucilene Marinho has a condition that left her without a cervix or ovaries. Photo / Caters
A woman born without a vagina has become the first in the world to undergo reconstructive surgery to have one built out of fish skin.
Jucilene Marinho, 23, from Ceará, Brazil, underwent a neovaginoplasty in April last year after being born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hause (MRKH) left her with no cervix, uterus or ovaries - meaning she will never have children.
The procedure, performed at the Federal University of Ceara involved creating an opening where Ms Marinho's vagina should have been before inserting a genital-shaped mould lined with the skin of the freshwater fish tilapia.
The fish skin was then absorbed into her body and transformed into tissue that lines the vaginal tract, the Daily Mail reports.
After spending three weeks in hospital, Ms Marinho - the first of four patients given the procedure - was discharged and is now thrilled with the results.
She said: "My family and friends took me out to 'toast' my new vagina!"
Ms Marinho, who spiraled into a deep depression when she thought she would never have an intimate relationship, has even been able to have sex for the first time with her boyfriend of over a year Marcus Santos, 24.
She added: "It was a wonderful moment because everything worked perfectly. There was no pain just a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction."