A woman in China has gained global attention after the rare occurrence of giving birth to twins, each from a different uterus—a phenomenon described by one medical expert as “one in a million.”
The woman, identified as Li, has a condition known as uterus didelphys, where two fully developed uteruses exist. This condition is incredibly uncommon, affecting only about 0.3% of women. According to the Cleveland Clinic, in cases like this, each uterus has its own fallopian tube and ovary, but the uterine cavities are typically narrower than usual.
While the condition itself is rare, what makes Li’s case extraordinary is that she conceived naturally in both uteruses, leading to the birth of her twins. The South China Morning Post reports that women with this condition face increased risks of complications such as recurrent miscarriages, premature births, and postpartum hemorrhages.
Li had previously experienced a miscarriage at 27 weeks, which prompted doctors to closely monitor her subsequent pregnancy to ensure the best outcome for her twins.
The twins, a boy weighing 3.3 kg (7.28 lbs) and a girl at 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs), were delivered by cesarean section. Both the babies and Li were in good health and discharged from the hospital four days after the birth.
Cai Ying, the obstetrician overseeing the delivery at the Xi’an hospital, noted the exceptional nature of the event. “Natural conception in both uteruses is extremely rare. There have only been a few such cases reported globally,” she explained. “It’s even more uncommon for a woman with this condition to carry the pregnancy to 37 weeks and successfully deliver healthy twins.”
In a similar case from 2023, an Alabama woman named Kelsey Hatcher, who also has uterus didelphys, gave birth to twins. Dr. Richard Davis, a maternal-fetal specialist at UAB, highlighted how uncommon such pregnancies are. “Having a double uterus or cervix occurs in less than 1% of women, maybe three per 1,000,” he said. “And the chances of carrying twins in each uterus are incredibly rare.”
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