A few months ago, I read an article on CNN.com (see link below) about a woman with two uteruses. She was pregnant in each uterus, and no, the babies are not considered twins! My first reaction was – how can that happen?
So while doing some research on another subject, I ran into some information on, of all things, the double uterus. The medical term for this condition is uterus didelphys. Interestingly enough, when the female fetus is developing, something (doctors don’t know exactly what) prevents the womb from forming correctly. Under normal circumstances, the uterus starts from two tubes that connect into one, making the womb. However, with uterus didelphys, the separate tubes remain separate and develop into two distinct organs.
Some women discover the fact that they have a second uterus only during a pregnancy or a routine pelvic exam. The doctor may detect a second cervix or he may notice the odd shape of the uterus itself. According to the Mayo Clinic, not only do some women have separate wombs with its own cervix, but each may have its own vagina as well!
Can you have a normal sex life then? Yes, many women do. However, with some, this rare condition can cause problems. Complications may include pelvic pain, miscarriages or infertility. On the other hand, this condition is not even thought to be a problem at all if there is no pelvic pain or other complications noted.
When symptoms are present, they may include multiple miscarriages with no clear medical reason as to why, unusual pain before and during menstrual periods as well as abnormal bleeding during periods, even though you are wearing a sanitary pad or tampon. Seek an opinion from a qualified professional. And finally, if you are having extreme problems and uterus didelphys is found to be the problem, surgery is the only option.
Best in health!
Dita Faulkner is a freelance writer and poet. I am so glad fall is almost here – one of my favorite seasons!
Woman pregnant in both uteruses – article from CNN.com
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/22/woman-with-2-uteruses-carrying-a-baby-in-each/?iref=allsearch