Woman with two vaginas speaks out about living with rare condition

'I felt like a freak of nature'

Sarah Jones
Monday 03 April 2017 10:58 BST
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Ricci first found out she had two vaginas when she was 17-years-old (Image: BBC3)
Ricci first found out she had two vaginas when she was 17-years-old (Image: BBC3) (Getty/iStock)

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A woman who was born with two vaginas has spoken out about the reality of living with the rare condition, in a bid to help women with ‘anomalies’ realise that they’re not alone.

Due to appear on the BB3 documentary, The Woman With Two Vaginas: Living Differently, which will be aired later this month, Nicci openly discusses what living with two vaginas is really like.

Describing the moment she first found out she had the condition aged 17, Nicci said, “I first knew something was wrong when I was a teenager and I was bleeding more than I should.

“The pain was intolerable and, while on my period, I couldn't function. My doctor told me I had two wombs, two vaginas and two cervixes.”

Nicci’s periods were known to last from seven to 28 days in total and at one point, she bled for six months straight with only a day or two break in between.

“There were times when I had to wear adult nappies because tampons and pads weren't enough.”

Ricci first found out she had two vaginas when she was 17-years-old (Image: BBC3)
Ricci first found out she had two vaginas when she was 17-years-old (Image: BBC3)

She also sadly suffered three miscarriages with her husband Andy, who she met 19 years ago in high school, as a result of the condition.

Aside from the physical difficulties, Nicci also opens up about the emotional issues she experienced saying that sex often made her feel like ‘a freak of nature’ because men would brag about sleeping with a woman with two vaginas.

“The condition has affected my life severely. Relationships with my friends and boyfriends especially.”

Eventually, life became so difficult that Nicci decided to opt for a double hysterectomy, which meant that she would never be able to conceive children, but the couple have hopes of adopting.

Husband Andy, who Nicci met 19 years ago at high school, has been consistently supportive (Image: BBC3)
Husband Andy, who Nicci met 19 years ago at high school, has been consistently supportive (Image: BBC3)

The World Health Organisation estimates around one in 3,000 women around the world are affected by the condition, which occurs when the uterus fails to fuse properly during development in the womb.

It means a woman can be born with any combination of two wombs, two separate cervixes and sometimes, two vaginas.

Speaking so candidly about the difficulties she faced, Nicci hopes that the documentary will help others struggling with similar conditions.

“There are so many women out there who have anomalies and don’t feel like they have somebody.

“You’re not alone, you’ve just got to be strong.”

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