Where the uterus is an organ which gives a woman the power to carry a life inside of her and give birth to another human being. While there are so many things going on with our body which we are unaware of and only come to light when some complication is caused due to it. One such condition is double uterus or didelphys in which a woman is born with two uterus. This condition is detected at a very later stage in life and can result in heavy bleeding during periods and complicated pregnancy. Here is everything that you need to know about double uterus from what this condition actually is to its symptoms, causes and treatment with Dr. Uma Vaidyanathan, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.
What is a double uterus?
A rare congenital abnormality, double uterus is known as uterus didelphys which occurs in about one out of every 2,000 women. As the formation of the uterus takes place by the fusion of two mullerian duct tubes, when these two tubes are unable to fuse and remain separated, it gives rise to two utri instead of one uterus and hence a double uterus is formed. This condition takes place when the baby girl is still inside her mother’s womb and in developing other body parts. In some cases the woman with a double uterus might have a cervix for each uterus and the vaginal opening might be divided into two halves by a thin membrane.
Here is what Dr. Uma Vaidyanathan has to say about this rare abnormality- “Double uterus is known as uterus didelphys in medical terms. In this case, the woman is born with 2 uteri and 2 cervices. It's a rare congenital anomaly.
Image Credits- Babygest
Also Read: Born Without A Uterus? Know About The MRKH Syndrome From An Expert
Usually these are detected much later in life when she has pain related to menses and abnormally heavy bleeding during menses due to 2 uteri. In some cases, only one uterus may be well developed and the other may be smaller leading to bleeding complications during menses and pregnancy if the developing fetus is implanted in the maldeveloped horn. Also, such patients may have difficulty conceiving. There may be repeated miscarriages leading to tests like hysterolaparoscopy ultrasound or mri detecting the condition.
Some patients have repeated pregnancy losses due to weak cervix (called incompetent os) leading to mid pregnancy losses, they are at risk of preterm birth as well. They must be handled by a high risk pregnancy specialist in a centre with a well equipped NICU.
There have been reports of certain rare cases where patients have carried pregnancies in both the uteri and delivered safely. I myself have handled a case in which the 1st pregnancy was in the right horn- delivered by cesarean as it was a breech baby and 2 years later, the second pregnancy was conceived in the left horn, delivered vaginally uneventfully at term.”
What causes Double Uterus?
The exact reason behind his condition is unknown but it is believed that it runs in the genes and can be genetic.
Image Credits- Western Journal Od Emergency Medicine
This condition is present in a girl child at the time of birth as when she is inside her mother’s womb, the mullerian duct tubes that are responsible for the formation of uterus are unable to fuse in together and results in two separate utri.
Symptoms of Double Uterus
Any underlying condition can not be detected without its symptoms as it is hidden and is not visible to the naked human eyes. Where several tests and diagnosis are conducted in order to detect the condition of double uterus or uterus didelphys. In this case it becomes really important to look for the symptoms of the disease and consult the doctor for further diagnosis of the condition.
Image Credits- GHP News
Here are some of the symptoms through which you can detect the rare condition of uterus didelphys-
- Heavy bleeding during periods
- Recurrent miscarrage
- Unusual cramps during or before periods
- Painful sex
- Early labour
Complications caused due to Double Uterus
Where uterus didelphys or having a double uterus is a rare and abnormal condition that affects a few women worldwide, many of these women lead a normal life and also have normal deliveries where others might experience a lot of complications. These complications usually revolve around the reproductive health of a woman. Here are a few complications that a woman suffering from uterus didelphys might experience.
- Unbearable period pain
- Infertility
- Recurrent miscarriages
- Kidney issues
- Premature birth
- Heavy menstrual flow
- Preterm labour
Diagnosis of Double Uterus
As by now you know about the complications and dangers that are involved with the underlying condition of uterus didelphys and what exactly this condition is. It is high time that you know that it's important to diagnose this condition in order to get timely treatment and avoid any further complications. Where looking out for symptoms is not enough, one must consult a doctor and get diagnosed for the same in order to detect the condition on time.
Also Read: Born With Half Uterus? Know Everything About Unicornuate Uterus From The Expert
Some of the diagnosis methods that your doctor might use to detect if you are affected by this condition are-
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
- Ultrasound
- Sonography
- Hysterosalpingography
Treatment for Double Uterus
Where medical sciences have seen a lot of advancements in the past few decades, it has come up with various treatments for several rare and underlying issues. With uterus didelphys being one such condition, once detected it can be treated and it is possible to correct this condition of double uterus. In order to do so a surgery is conducted which is required in a very few cases. Where a woman has a double vagina along with two uteri, a surgery is performed by the doctors to remove the tissue wall that separates the vagina through the means of operation to make the childbirth and pregnancy easier.
With inputs from Dr. Uma Vaidyanathan, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.