The rare malformation can lead to the development of two cervixes and two vaginal canals. Understand!
Evelyn Miller, 31, has noticed something was different with your body whenOddly, he was unable to use a tampon at age 13. ” I tried to put it where the vagina normally is, but it was impossible.“, the Australian recently said in an interview with daily email.
At the age of 17, more symptoms appeared when the young woman tried to have her first sexual intercourse. “The penis kept hitting a wall,” she told the portal. It wasn’t until 2011, at the age of 19, that she finally discovered the reason for so much pain during sex and when she used tampons: Evelyn had two fully developed vaginas, two uteruses, and two sets of ovaries.an extreme version of the condition known as uterus didelphis.
What is the didelphic uterus?
The condition is a type of female organ malformation.which occurs during embryonic life. ” The woman develops two hemiuteri (i.e. two small uteri)“, explains Alexandre Rossi, gynecologist and obstetrician at the Hospital e Maternidade Leonor Mendes de Barros and collaborator doctor of Gynecology at the USP Faculty of Medicine.
In the didelphic uterus they are accompanied by two cervices, but it is possible to have other presentations and lighter division degrees: from an arcuate (heart-shaped) uterus, a bicornuate uterus (with a small partition at the bottom) to its complete separationwhich is the case with Evelyn.
” A woman with a didelphys uterus will not always have two vaginas. The most common is to have the beginning of a septum, a small division, at the top of the organ. However, it is possible, in fact, to have two uteruses and two vaginal canals,” emphasizes Ana Paula Beck, gynecologist and obstetrician of the maternal and child ward of the Albert Einstein Hospital.
What Causes Didelphys Uterus?
The congenital anomaly is rare and occurs in the first weeks of the baby’s intrauterine life. “There is a failure at the junction of the two cords of embryonic cells, which should fuse to form the organ. They remain split in half, maintaining two cervices,” explains Alexandre. Even if there is no specific cause, it is known that there is a genetic component to the conditionsince the didelphic uterus can occur in women of the same family.
Symptoms of the uterus Didelphys
Patients may have some kind of symptoms, but are easily confused. “There is no specific signal for this situation. The most common are colic or pelvic pain,” says Ana Paula. Some patients also experience recurrent urinary tract infections. ” It is common for uterine malformations to be associated with kidney abnormalities. So when we make a diagnosis in utero, we have to look for signs in the urinary tract and vice versa,” she adds.
This was also the case for Evelyn, who, after discovering the malformation of the uterus and the presence of two vaginas, received the information that her urethra was positioned lower than normal.
The diagnosis of malformation of the uterus
Since the symptoms are almost non-existent, the alteration is often detected only in adulthood by the gynecologist during routine examinations, and the diagnosis confirmed on imaging tests. “In cases where there are two vaginal openings, as well as two uteruses and two cervixes, identification occurs earlier,” says Alexandre.
Tests can be an ultrasound or an MRI. “The patient undergoes the first imaging examination, we suspect the congenital malformation and confirm the diagnosis with a second procedure”says the gynecologist at Albert Einstein Hospital.
Can a woman with didelphys uterus get pregnant?
One of Evelyn’s concerns after receiving her diagnosis was infertility. However, the Aussie has given birth to two babies through the same womb: Andrew, 1 year and 8 months, and Georgia, 8 months. “There was always the risk that I was pregnant with two babies at the same time. During pregnancy, we should still use condoms if we wanted to have sex in the other vagina.“, She said.
The woman with didelphic uterus can have a normal life, including natural pregnancy. However, since the space in the uterus is reduced and it tends to dilate more easily, the risk of miscarriage or premature birth is higher. “For this reason, very rigorous monitoring is important, preferably before conception and throughout the prenatal period,” indicates Alexandre.
“You have to do an evaluation of the cervix, to see if there is a risk of prematurity. Eventually, we can indicate surgery, in order to maintain the pregnancy until the normal time. Once the pregnant woman has given birth at an appropriate term, it can be done naturally, depending on the degree of malformation,” explains Ana Paula.
In addition to cerclage of the cervix (a suture in place) to prevent it from dilating early, rest for pregnant women with didelphys uterus is important to avoid premature birth.
Is there a treatment for didelphys uterus?
Since most patients are asymptomatic, i.e. the diagnosis is made in an examination and there is no pain or discomfort, follow-up of the woman is routine. There is no pharmacological treatment and, in most cases, there is no surgical indication.
“The surgery, in general, is performed only when there is no expulsion of menstruation from half of a uterus, and not with the intention of correcting the organ. The reconstruction procedure is only performed in very specific cases, as it has a high morbidity and tends to weaken the muscles,” Alexandre points out. It is also possible to remove part of a septum in the region, to improve the width of the vagina and avoid pain in sexual intercourse.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
