A woman from northwest China has garnered attention for giving birth to twins from two separate uteruses, a rare medical occurrence. The woman, identified only by her surname Li, welcomed the twins in September at a hospital in Shaanxi province, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Li was diagnosed with uterus didelphys, a rare condition that affects only 0.3% of women worldwide, resulting in two fully formed uteruses, each accompanied by its own set of ovaries and oviducts. What makes Li’s case particularly exceptional is that she naturally conceived and delivered twins—a boy and a girl—each from different wombs.
The twins were born when Li was eight and a half months pregnant, marking a notable addition to the few cases of such births documented globally.
Cai Ying, a senior obstetrician at the hospital, described Li’s pregnancy as a “one in a million” event. “Being pregnant in each of the two uteruses through natural conception is very rare. We have only heard of a couple of such cases from both China and abroad,” Cai told SCMP.
Women with uterus didelphys often face higher risks during pregnancy, including miscarriages, premature births, and other complications. Li had previously suffered a miscarriage at 27 weeks. However, her second pregnancy, which began in January, was closely monitored and managed with a detailed medical plan to ensure the safety of both her and her babies.
