This 20-Year-Old Went Viral on TikTok For Having 'Two Periods a Month'

In a TikTok video on May 4, 2021, Paige DeAngelo shared that she has two monthly periods. In the video, DeAngelo reacts to gunshot sounds next to different phrases, including "two vaginas," "two uteruses," "two cervixes," and "two periods a month." 

DeAngelo, who has a condition known as uterine didelphys, said that she "could get pregnant in both sides at different times." According to a study published in 2015 in Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology, uterine didelphys is a rare congenital disability that results in a "double uterus."

Deangelo, who was 20 years old when she posted the video, welcomed questions about her condition. In answer to one question, DeAngelo told one person that her reproductive systems are next to each other, and her two periods "unfortunately" don't always sync up.

Here's what you should know about uterine didelphys—including how the rare condition is diagnosed and the potential risks of having a "double uterus."

What Is Uterine Didelphys?

Uterine didelphys, also known as "double uterus" or uterus didelphys—happens during embryological development. According to the 2015 Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology study, the two tubes that are supposed to form one uterus instead become two separate structures eventually. 

Some people with uterine didelphys have one vagina, while others have two, per a case report published in 2021 in Clinical Practice Cases in Emergency Medicine.

Uterine didelphys usually doesn't always cause symptoms. But having a "double uterus" may cause a higher-than-normal risk of miscarriage and premature birth.

Uterine Didelphys Diagnosis

DeAngelo spoke to the Daily Mail about her condition, saying that she was diagnosed when she was 18 after having irregular periods—sometimes one every two weeks. 

DeAngelo pointed out that you can't see both of her vaginas on the exterior of her body, and that's why she didn't find out about her condition until she was 18.

"Each 'side' is half the size of a normal vagina. It doesn't cause any issues, but it's definitely noticeable," DeAngelo told the Daily Mail. 

DeAngelo added that she was diagnosed after having a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to an MRI, healthcare providers use other imaging and surgical tests to diagnose uterine didelphys. According to the 2015 Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology study, those tests may include:

• Ultrasound: This imaging test produces a two-dimensional image of your uterus. While it's one of the first tests your healthcare provider may perform to diagnose uterine didelphys, it's not very reliable.
• Hysteroscopy: This is an invasive exam in which your healthcare provider inserts a thin, flexible tube through your vagina. The device also has a light, allowing your healthcare provider to look inside your uterus. They may also retrieve a tissue sample.
• Laparoscopy: With this surgical procedure, your healthcare provider makes small incisions on your abdomen. Then, they'll insert a device with a camera through the incisions.
• Hysterosalpingography (HSG): This imaging test produces an outline of the shape of your uterus. During an HSG, your healthcare provider will insert a thin tube through your vagina and inject a dye into your uterus.
  

Potential Risks of Uterine Didelphys

DeAngelo shared that she "thought [her diagnosis] was kind of funny at first" until she learned that uterine didelphys put her at a much higher risk of premature births and miscarriages. Uterine didelphys causes each of her uteruses to be smaller than a typical uterus.

Because of those risks, DeAngelo said her healthcare provider told her that she would probably need a surrogate to have biological children. 

"That was so heartbreaking to hear. I wanted to have a future where I grow up and have a big family," shared DeAngelo.

DeAngelo added that she's in a Facebook support group with other people with uterine didelphys, noting that many of them have had one child for every five miscarriages. 

"It's disheartening, but I'm kind of a glass-half-full person. The fact that people have had kids is what keeps me going," said DeAngelo.

DeAngelo said she has a boyfriend, and "everything works in that sense." She's also been able to control her irregular periods with the birth control pill.

DeAngelo said she's hopeful she can help others with her condition by speaking out about it. 

"A lot of girls who have the same issue DM'd [direct messaged] me, saying they felt so alone this whole time. Being able to bring all those people together was the reason why I did this," explained DeAngelo. "I'm glad I've created a safe space for other females to reach out for help."

A Quick Review

DeAngelo's condition, uterine didelphys, is a rare congenital disability resulting from abnormal embryological development. Uterine didelphys causes a "double uterus," which is what causes DeAngelo to have two monthly periods. 

People with uterine didelphys may have abnormal menstrual bleeding, including heavy and painful periods, or be at a higher-than-normal risk of miscarriages and pregnancy complications.