Double Uterus???

[Sibbie]

Not sure where i should have posted this, feel free to move etc.

I have just heard that one of my friends has a double uterus??? Has anyone ever heard of this or known anyone that has had it?

I'm intrigued!

[Papillon]

Hmm i was intrigued too so i googled it.

This is what i found..

A double uterus, technically called a "uterus didelphys", is when the uterus has two inner cavities. Each cavity may lead to its own cervix and vagina, so the woman has two cervixes and two vaginas. Again, this is very rare.

from here Abnormalities of the uterus

[Michelle71]

Is it a double uterus or a bicornuate uterus??

[JellyBean]

I was told i have a 'heart-shaped' uterus- that up the top of my uterus it has 2 pockets.
I was told the only potential implication is that as bub grows- there may be less room for it to move....
Have not heard of the double uterus with 2 vaginas & cervixs though- that sure is stange!! Would that double your chances of conception I wonder???

"mmm- which vagina shall we try tonight honey?" lol......

[Lisa]

I had a friend who had this... she actually had to working sets of ovaries too and could fall pregnant in either uterus. She carried children successfully and in a different uterus each time.

[Snacks]

Wow. I have only ever seen it on Grey's Anatomy The character was carrying two babies, conceived about 6 weeks apart.
Hey, if you do have two different systems, does that mean you get AF twice as often?!? (You'd hope that your cycles would synchronise, wouldn't you? Unless you were TTC, then I guess it really does give you a conception advantage...)

[echidna]

Your cycles should syncronise as you get LH and FSH from your pituitary gland, which sets the cycle for the oestrogen and progesterone in your menstrual cycle.

I am intrigued also. Could she have two uteruses but one vagina? How was this discovered?

[sunshine_sieben]

Wow. I have only ever seen it on Grey's Anatomy The character was carrying two babies, conceived about 6 weeks apart.
Hey, if you do have two different systems, does that mean you get AF twice as often?!? (You'd hope that your cycles would synchronise, wouldn't you? Unless you were TTC, then I guess it really does give you a conception advantage...)

Your cycles should syncronise as you get LH and FSH from your pituitary gland, which sets the cycle for the oestrogen and progesterone in your menstrual cycle.

How strange...
Well, if your cycles should synchronise, this character shouldn't have ovulated in the second set of ovaries after falling pregnant from the first set... So she shouldn't have been able to fall pregnant a second time...
ETA: Although it would theoretically be possible to conceive in both uteruses at the same time...
So what happens when she goes into labour? Will both uteruses contract? Will both cervixes soften and dilate? I suppose, they'd probably do a c/s... or should I say 2...
My mind boggles...

Saša

[Floweryfields]

Yes I know a lady who did. She thought she was sterile - can't exactly remember the full story - think she'd had a hystorectomy - then got pregnant in her other uterus. Must check with mum about the full story there.....

[Mildez]

I have seen a few women with double uterus's. I have only being a midwife for 2years and have seen 4 different people with double uterus's and two cervix. One actually had a double uterus (didn't know it) and they couldn't work out why she wasn't dilating in labour what so ever. She had a c/s and turns out she had no cervix in the side the baby was so there was no way it was getting out (don't know how it got in the dr reckons it was medically impossible except look at how small sperm are as if they couldnt squeeze through membrans anyway sneaky little things) well she had to have a hysterectomy as there was no way for the blood for the op to come out after she was closed back up. She still has her other uterus (that her 1st and 2nd child were conceived in) in which she were able to birth vaginally. Another lady knew she had two uterus from a pap smear. She also had two vaginas and had 5 vaginal deliverys then with her last she went 10days over due and was induced and it was unsuccessful and she went for a C/S. Her first 5 children had being in the other side and she had no problems with delivery vaginally until no 6 who was in the opposite side to her siblings. Its pretty interesting.

[Schmickers]

Yes, it is possible to have two uteri, two cervixes, and one vagina - both cervixes open out at the top of the vagina. I have a friend with a full didelphys - she literally has two separate vaginas, with one vaginal opening and a very thin wall between the two vaginal canals. In her case it has caused her significant problems TTC because she doesn't necessarily ovulate on both sides each cycle, which means that it tends to be a lucky dip because depending on which vagina they use for sex, they may or may not have a viable egg there in any given cycle. And although I've never asked her the nitty-gritty details (she's not that kind of friend) I imagine that even being able to choose which side you are using might be somewhat awkward.

[Hahamama]

Oh wow. I'm glad it's not that complicated for me. I have two uteri, but just the one cervix and vagina. What I'm wondering (I forgot to ask my OBGYN) is whether it's possible to ovulate more than once a month? Does anyone know for sure?

[Mildez]

No as usually you still have two ovaries (one per uterus) your chances of ovulating more then once is generally no higher then women with one uterus and two ovaries. I have not heard of women with more then two ovaries but I guess if its possible then the more you have the more likely of ovulating more then once per cycle. Of course women do ovulate more then once and thats how you get faternal twins.