Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff Some women have a double uterus and never realize it even during pregnancy and childbirth. Each cavity in a double uterus often leads to its own cervix. Some women with a double uterus also have a duplicate or divided vagina. Possible signs and symptoms may include: Unusual pain before or during a menstrual period Abnormal bleeding during a period, such as blood flow despite the use of a tampon

When to see a doctor If you have signs and symptoms common to a double uterus, make an appointment with your doctor. Receiving an early diagnosis is especially important if you plan to become pregnant, or if you've had repeated miscarriages. Your doctor can recommend treatment options to improve your chances of getting pregnant, staying pregnant and having a safe delivery. If you've been diagnosed with a double uterus and are considering pregnancy, talk with your doctor first. Together you can make a plan for optimal care during pregnancy and delivery.

Uterus Didelphys, or a double uterus, is a rare condition that occurs in female fetuses as they develop in the womb. Normally, two tubes called Mullerian ducts are fused together to create a single uterus, but occasionally these two tubes fail to join. When this happens, two separate uteri form, usually with double cervices and double vaginas as well. They are both fully functioning uteri, and some women with this condition have given birth to twins who were each housed in a separate uterus. This means it is possible to deliver babies several days or weeks apart, though many with multiple births opt for scheduled cesarean sections. The cause of this anomaly is not known and there are often no symptoms present, so many women never even know they have uterus didelphys. Other women may have abnormal pain during menses, and some will have reproductive and pregnancy issues. If uterus didelphys is suspected, a doctor will perform a pelvic exam. During this exam, if a double vagina and double cervix are present, doctors may order other tests to assess the condition of the uteri. Diagnostic procedures used to view the uterus include ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and hysterosalpingography, which is a cumbersome label for a procedure that involves injecting a dye into the uterus and taking special x-rays. AdChoices

If no symptoms are present and there are no complications with fertility and pregnancy, thenuterus didelphys does not require any treatment. Sometimes women with this condition will have pregnancy complications due to the smaller size each uterus. Miscarriage, infertility, and delivery issues are all possibilities. Breech births are especially common for women withuterus didelphys, and many end up having cesarean sections. Doctors are loathe to perform surgery to correct this condition, as the symptoms do not typically warrant the risk of surgery. However, if it's only a thin layer separating the uteri, and a fetus is at risk, doctors may remove the barrier. The most important thing for pregnant women with uterus didelphys to remember is that the condition puts one in the high-risk pregnancy category. This means all the normal safety precautions associated with any pregnancy should be tightly adhered to, and doctor's orders should be closely followed to avoid miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and premature birth. Anincompetent cervix is one

of the factors that contributes to premature labor, so it is essential that women have the cervix checked often in the latter portion of a pregnancy.

What Are the Special Concerns with Pregnancy and Uterus Didelphys?

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Written By: Amber Eberle Edited By: Michelle Arevalo Copyright Protected: 2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation

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Learn something new every day More Info...by email A woman with uterus didelphys is born with two uteruses, two cervix, and two vaginas. This condition is very rare and can be a cause of infertility. It is possible for a woman with this type of uterine malformation to become pregnant and carry a baby to term, but there is an increased risk of complications. These can include miscarriage, incompetent cervix, premature birth, improper positioning of the baby, and uterine rupture. During pregnancy, a woman withuterus didelphys is typically closely monitored by her doctor. Most women with uterus didelphys are not aware of it unless they have a problem carrying a baby to term. One of the most common pregnancy concerns when uterus didelphys is involved is miscarriage. Studies have estimated that women with double uteruses have miscarriage rates of 43% compared to a miscarriage rate of 25% in women without the condition. As a pregnancy progresses, a woman with uterus didelphys may become concerned about the health of the cervix associated with the uterus carrying the fetus. An incompetent cervix dilates prematurely, which can lead to a miscarriage or pre-term labor. A doctor treating a woman with an incompetent cervix may recommend bed rest or placing a cerclage on the cervix to keep it closed. The size and shape of the double uteruses make premature labor and birth a concern during pregnancy. The average gestational period of a baby born to a woman with uterus didelphys is 35 weeks, compared to the typical 40-week gestation of a normal pregnancy. Premature birth can lead to complications in the baby, so it is recommended that a woman with double uteruses give birth in a hospital with neo-natal intensive care facilities. Another concern in regard to the size and shape of the uteruses is the position of the baby in utero. In a normal pregnancy, a baby is positioned with its head down shortly before birth. Pregnancies in which a woman has uterus didelphys have a high rate of fetal malpositioning. It is estimated that in 27% of these pregnancies, the fetus is in the breech position with the buttocks presenting first. Most doctors believe that the safest way to deliver a breech baby is via Cesarean section, which has its own set of risks and concerns. While very rare, it is possible for the uterus to rupture during pregnancy. A uterine rupture is very serious and can be fatal to both the mother and the baby. This occurs at a slightly higher rate in a woman with uterine abnormalities, such as uterus didelphys. It is speculated that this may be due to the fact that abnormal uteruses tend to have thinner than normal walls as the pregnancy progresses.

Uterus Didelphys

Uterus Didelphys Causes

Medical researchers still cannot provide a clear answer as to the cause of uterus didelphys. However, in most cases, this medical condition is often associated with abnormalities in the kinder and other factors that may influence the development of the tubes before birth.

Uterus Didelphys Definition

Uterus didelphys is medical anomaly where the two tubes of the uterus do not join completely and develops into two separate cavities. This is also known as double uterus, which each uterus having its own cervix and a divided or double vagina. This condition has been known to be quite rare and may not even be diagnosed at times.

Uterus Didelphys Diagnosis

Diagnosis for uterus didelphys is usually done using a routine pelvic exam. Other tests include imaging exams such as MRI, ultrasound, hysterosalpingography, and laparoscopy.

Uterus Didelphys Symptoms and Signs

There are some women who have uterus didelphys but never realize it. Symptoms include mass in the pelvis, abnormal bleeding during menstruation as well as unusual pain felt before and during menstruation.

Uterus Didelphys Treatment

If the patient do not suffer from any symptoms of a double uterus, in most cases treatment may not be required. However, a surgical procedure can be performed for partial division of the uterus.