Uterine Didelphys - A Layman's Guide to This Reproductive Anomaly

I suffer from a rare uterine deformity called Uterine Didelphys. If mentioned, it confuses people, so I thought, "Hey! I'll write an article on it!" Never let it be said I don't take my writing straight from my life.

Uterine Didelphys is an anomaly resulting from the Mullers ducts not fusing in development. Here's a nice technical definition for you:

Uterine Didelphys is a rare type of deformity (1 in 1000 women) in the female reproductive organs in which some organs may be either split or duplicated. Typically, some of these "extra" organs are non-functional or semi-functional appendages, although on occasion they will be completely functional in all normal respects, and often independently. As the vagina is largely derived from the Mullerian ducts, lack of fusion of the two ducts can lead to the formation of a vaginal septum, or "double vagina", a condition sometimes called with a uterus didelphys or a uterine septum.

In my personal case, I have two completely separate organs, with two cervixes. I have only the two normal ovaries, one is connected to each. I also used to have the vaginal septum as well; however, I finally had that removed surgically. In addition, I suffer from fibroids, but my research indicated that it has nothing to do with my congenital defect.

So what does this mean to a woman? Well, as far as practical matters go, I menstruate in each, at the same time - so tampons couldn't be used due to the septum (the blood would just run down the other side of the septum). When I menstruate, I have double the pain (both uteri contracting for cramps), and double the blood (both uteri shedding their linings). In addition, intercourse was a pain - on both sides. Imagine if you will, the male party doing the thing that he does, when Bam! He hits a wall dead on. Let's just say my husband was happy after the septum removal as well.