Congenital Double Uterus 'Jungbokjagung'
Both Fetuses Female, Delivery Date on Christmas
A story about a woman in her 30s in the United States who became pregnant in two uteruses simultaneously has been revealed, attracting attention.
A woman with two uteruses confirmed her pregnancies in each uterus by sharing ultrasound images. [Photo by Daily Mail capture]
On the 14th (local time), major foreign media reported that Kelsi Hatcher (32) is pregnant in both uteruses and is expected to give birth to fraternal twins this December.
Hatcher was born with a congenital condition called uterus didelphys, having two uteruses. She has given birth to three children so far, all of whom were conceived in only one uterus.
Hatcher said, "During an ultrasound examination last spring, I was relieved when the medical staff initially said 'we see one baby,' but immediately after, while looking at the screen together with the medical staff, I was surprised to find out that I was also pregnant in the other uterus."
She told her husband about the two babies, but it is reported that even her husband was so shocked that he thought it was a "lie."
Dr. Richard Davis, an obstetrics and gynecology professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and Hatcher's attending physician, said, "Uterus didelphys itself is rare, and the probability of being pregnant in each uterus simultaneously is about one in a million."
It is known that the babies she is carrying are all girls. They are growing normally without any abnormalities, and the due date is Christmas this year.
The two babies, each conceived in a separate uterus, may be born hours or weeks apart.
0.3% of Women Worldwide Have 'Uterus Didelphys'
A woman with two uteruses confirmed her pregnancies in each uterus by sharing ultrasound images. [Photo by Daily Mail capture]
Uterus didelphys is a rare physical condition where a woman has two uteruses. It is difficult to notice because it usually does not show symptoms. However, women with uterus didelphys are known to experience excessive menstrual bleeding and severe menstrual pain. Also, due to the unusual shape of the uterus, they have a higher chance of preterm birth or miscarriage.
The cause of uterus didelphys has not yet been identified. However, experts believe it may occur when the M?llerian ducts do not properly fuse during fetal development.
The M?llerian ducts are a pair of tubes present during fetal development that form the female reproductive organs. Normally, the M?llerian ducts fuse as the fetus grows to form a single uterus. If they do not fuse, each duct forms a separate uterus. Uterus didelphys is very rare, found in only about 0.3% of the female population.
Uterus didelphys can be treated surgically. However, unless there are special reasons such as frequent miscarriages, it is generally better not to treat it. Surgery involves uniting the two uteruses, but there is a risk that the uterus may become weakened afterward. Uterus didelphys is a congenital physical characteristic and cannot be prevented. However, if pregnant, it is important to maintain healthy habits such as quitting smoking and regular exercise to ensure proper development of the fetus's reproductive organs.
Besides uterus didelphys, other types of uterine malformations include ▲septate uterus (where the external shape of the uterus appears normal but a wall (septum) exists inside the uterine cavity) and ▲bicornuate uterus (where the base of the uterus appears convex). Diagnosis of uterine malformations can be confirmed through vaginal ultrasound or hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy is an examination where an endoscope is inserted into the uterus to diagnose any abnormalities in the uterine shape. By directly observing the inside of the uterus, it can also check for unexplained infertility, endometritis, uterine fibroids, and other conditions.
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