Woman with two vaginas shares her discovery moment

Evelyn Miller, from Gold Coast, Australia, has a rare condition called complete uterus didelphys. That results in two fully independent reproductive systems, including two vaginas, two cervixes, and two uteruses, each with an ovary. Her condition is a severe and uncommon form of uterus didelphys.

From a young age, Evelyn sensed differences in her body. She struggled with tampons and found sexual intercourse unusual due to the outward angle of her two vaginas. Her condition became clear at 20 during a termination procedure after she felt pregnant. After the procedure, doctors informed her she was still pregnant in her other uterus, necessitating a second termination.

Managing her menstruation presents unique challenges. Evelyn experiences overlapping periods of slightly varying lengths, requiring double the usual number of tampons each month. Despite these difficulties, she has given birth to two children via C-section. Her uteruses are about half the size of a normal uterus, which necessitated the C-sections to prevent trauma to her and the babies.

Uterus didelphys is an uncommon uterine malformation. It arises when the embryonic Müllerian ducts fail to fuse, creating a double uterus with two cervices and often a double vagina. About 1 in 3,000 women have this condition, making it rarer than other uterine malformations like arcuate, septate, and bicornuate uteruses.

Diagnosing uterus didelphys can be complex and typically requires multiple methods, such as transvaginal ultrasonography, sonohysterography, MRI, and hysteroscopy. It's crucial to distinguish this condition from others, like a complete uterine septum, as treatments vary significantly. Surgery is generally not recommended for uterus didelphys. This condition can increase the risks during pregnancy, including premature birth and a higher rate of cesarean sections. It's also associated with higher risks of infertility, miscarriage, intrauterine growth retardation, and postpartum bleeding.

In rare cases, women with double uteruses have had twin pregnancies with each uterus carrying a separate pregnancy. There have been about 100 such cases worldwide, demonstrating the unique reproductive scenarios of this condition.