A double uterus is an uncommon congenital anomaly. The uterus develops from two tiny tubes in a female fetus. The tubes generally combine to form one bigger, hollow organ — the uterus — as the fetus develops.
However, the tubes may not always connect entirely. Instead, each one grows into its own structure. A double uterus may have one entrance (cervix) into one vagina or a cervix in each uterine compartment. A thin wall of tissue extends along the length of the vagina in many situations, splitting it into two discrete entrances.
Women with a double uterus are more likely to have successful pregnancies. However, the condition raises the chances of miscarriage or early delivery.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DOUBLE UTERUS?
A double uterus frequently has no symptoms. A frequent pelvic exam or imaging testing to establish the reason of recurring miscarriages may reveal the issue.
Women with a double vagina and a double uterus should see a doctor if their monthly flow isn't halted by a tampon. In some cases, the lady has inserted a tampon into one vagina, yet blood continues to escape from the second uterus and vagina.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DOUBLE UTERUS?
Doctors are unsure why some fetuses acquire a second uterus while others do not. Because this uncommon illness occasionally runs in families, a genetic component might be a factor.
HOW DOES A DOUBLE UTERUS AFFECT PREGNANCY?
Having a second uterus normally does not prevent a woman from becoming pregnant. Miscarriage can occur as a result of the shape of the uterus in which the baby has implanted. Furthermore, women with a double uterus have smaller uteri, which might contribute to premature labor.
If you have a double uterus and are pregnant, your physicians will want to regularly examine your pregnancy to ensure that everything is well with your baby. If the baby is not doing well, they may recommend an early birth through cesarean section (C-section).
If you've had a string of losses, you may be given surgery to improve your chances of carrying to term.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF DOUBLE UTERUS?
Many women who have a second uterus have regular sex lives, pregnancies, and births. However, a double uterus and other uterine development anomalies are sometimes related with:
- Infertility
- Miscarriage
- Premature delivery
- Kidney issues
HOW IS DOUBLE UTERUS DIAGNOSED?
When your doctor notices a double cervix or feels an unusually shaped uterus during a regular pelvic exam, you may have a double uterus. Your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:
- Ultrasound: This test generates pictures of the interior of your body using high-frequency sound waves. A transducer is either pushed against your abdomen skin or introduced into your vagina to acquire the photos (transvaginal ultrasound). To gain the greatest image, both forms of ultrasonography may be used. Where accessible, a 3-D ultrasound may be employed.
- Sonohysterogram: The sonohysterogram (son-o-HIS-ter-o-gram), or ultrasound scan, is performed when fluid is delivered into your uterus through a catheter via your vagina and cervix. This allows your doctor to examine the shape of your uterus for issues.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): The MRI machine resembles a tube with both ends open. You lie down on a moveable table that slides into the tunnel's aperture. This painless treatment creates cross-sectional pictures of the interior of your body using a magnetic field and radio waves.
- Hysterosalpingography: A specific dye is injected into your uterus through your cervix during a hysterosalpingography. X-rays are obtained while the dye goes through your reproductive organs to evaluate the shape and size of your uterus, as well as if your fallopian tubes are open.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR DOUBLE UTERUS?
Treatment is seldom required if you have a double uterus but no indications or symptoms. Surgery to join a double uterus is seldom performed; however, if you have a partial division inside your uterus and no other medical cause for a previous pregnancy loss, surgery may help you preserve the pregnancy.
If you have a double vagina in addition to a double uterus, you may be a candidate for surgery to remove the tissue wall that separates the two vaginas. This can help make labor simpler.