Table of Content

1. What is Uterus didelphys
2. Causes of uterus didelphys
3. Symptoms of Uterus didelphys
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment of Uterus didelphys
6. Complications of Uterus didelphys
7. Outlook of Uterus didelphys

What is Uterus didelphys?

Uterus didelphys is a rare congenital disorder that occurs from birth wherein a female develops two uterus instead of one. This development starts from the womb during the process of a fetus developing into a baby. While developing, the uterus grows from the channel called Mullerian Ducts.
These channels join together and produce one uterus but in an abnormal case when the two channels did not properly join or didn’t join, Each of them goes on to develop into a uterus thereby resulting in Two uterus ( Uterine didelphys).
Persons with two uteruses may also have two cervixes (openings to the vagina) and two vaginas as the case may be. Women with this abnormality have a chance of pregnancy but there is a high risk of complications such as miscarriage.

Causes of uterus didelphys

Research has shown that the Secondary cause of uterus didelphys is the inability of the Mullerian ducts to join but the Primary cause is unknown, which is what causes the failure of Mullerian duct to join. Recently there has been an indication of Genetic link possibility as part of the primary cause of Uterus didelphys.
Some rare conditions could make uterus didelphys a possibility such as;
⦁ Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich: This is the development of an abnormal Mullerian duct, though rare.
⦁ Cervical agenesis: The absence of a cervix in the female body or a situation where a woman is born without a cervix.
⦁ Vaginal agenesis: The absence of a vagina in the female body or a situation where a woman is born without a vagina.
⦁ Congenital vesicovaginal fistula: This is a biological disorder, where there is a hole in between the vagina and the bladder.
⦁ Small kidneys: A medical situation where one is born with a small kidney
⦁ Bladder exstrophy: This is a rare situation where your bladder grows outside your body in the womb.

Symptoms of uterus didelphys

Most women don’t experience any symptoms, the majority of the women find out during pelvic assessment or test or an investigation of reoccurring miscarriage. However, there are some other signs or symptoms that may indicate uterus didelphys such as;
⦁ Uncontrollable bleeding while using a tampon: This bleeding occurs because the tampon is inserted in the vagina which is meant to stop bleeding, so when the bleeding continues a case of the double uterus would not be out of place.
⦁ Early labor
⦁ Multiple miscarriages
⦁ Heavy bleeding during the monthly flow
⦁ severe pain during sexual intercourse
⦁ Pain during or after monthly flow ( dysmenorrhea)

Diagnosis

A pelvic examination will typically reveal a double vagina and a double cervix. Investigations are usually prompted based on such findings as well as when reproductive problems are encountered such as marriages or other related pelvic issues. The Methods of uterus diagnosis are as follows
⦁ transvaginal ultrasonography/Sonohysterogram: Vaginal ultrasonography is medical ultrasonography that applies an ultrasound transducer in the vagina to visualize organs within the pelvic cavity. It is also called transvaginal ultrasonography because the ultrasound waves go across the vaginal wall to study tissues
⦁ Ultrasound: Using high-frequency sound waves, ultrasound machines are used to create images of the inside of your body. The sonographer will put some cool jelly on the end of a device called a transducer and apply it to your abdomen so that they can see how your uterus looks. when the image is not visible enough transvaginal ultrasonography/Sonohysterogram may be recommended.
⦁ Hysterosalpingography (HSG): During this test, a special dye is inserted into your uterus through your cervix, allowing the doctor to see-through X-rays how the dye moves through your organs and see the shape and size of the uterus.
⦁ Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI): Magnetic fields and radio waves are used to generate cross-sectional images of the body. A woman needs to lie completely still in a machine that looks like a large tunnel for this test. It can feel unnerving, but it’s completely painless.
NOTE: Recent research has shown that 3-D ULTRASONOGRAPHY has been advocated as an excellent non-invasive method to evaluate uterine malformations.

Treatment of Uterus didelphys

Many women with double uterus leave a normal life but sexually, good pregnancy and safe childbirth, there is no need for treatments unless, on the bases of several cases of pregnancy loss or miscarriage in which surgery may be carried out to sustain the pregnancy by attaching the two uterus to become one if there are two vagina, the doctor may carry out surgery to remove the dividing tissue and make it one.

Complications of Uterus didelphys

Some complications may arise from a double uterus, Even though we can dispute the facts of a safe and healthy pregnancy. such complications are as follows;
⦁ Kidney Problem: Abnormalities of the Mullerian duct can affect another duct that develops in the fetus, called the Wolffian duct. Malformations of the Wolffian duct can cause kidney issues. This complication occurs in 15 to 30 percent of women with a double uterus.
⦁ Constant miscarriage or pregnancy loss
⦁ Intrauterine growth restrictions
⦁ Premature labor
⦁ Torn vaginal tissue between the two vaginas during labor

Outlooks of Uterus Didelphys

Women who experience repeated pregnancy loss should try and have their bodies examined for possible cases of uterus didelphys. This is a rare case from birth in mat not show any symptoms so it’s suggested that a woman who is planning to conceive should go for a proper healthcare check.