A UK businessman was given the greatest shock of his life when he visited the hospital. He was told that he was not suffering from cancer because of the blood in his urine, but he has a fully functioning womb in addition to the typical male genitalia and has been having periods since his teens.
The 37-year-old said he has experienced strange symptoms for years, such as a dull ache after sex, but his concerns were always brushed aside by medics. Specialists have since discovered that, as well has having typical exterior male genitalia, he also has an interior uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
The man is suffering from a rare genetic disorder and may even be able to get pregnant. He is now preparing for surgery to remove the womb having lived his whole life as a 'red blooded' male. Doctors say this is the best way to treat the condition, but have warned him that he could start the menopause once the operation is complete.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare genetic disorder which occurs when the body fails to produce or respond to certain hormones while developing during pregnancy. Every foetus contains the beginnings of a womb, known as the Mullerian duct, but if the baby is male then it will produce hormones meaning this reduces and then disappears all together. However in those with PMDS the body either does not produce these hormones, or does not react to them properly, meaning the duct develops into a functioning womb.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is a genetic condition which means that both sets of genitals will form. Symptoms include one or both testicles failing to descend, and fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen. Because these hormones do not affect the growth of the pen*s, it means the child will also develop typical exterior male genitals.
The syndrome is believed to be extremely rare, although the exact number of cases each year is largely unknown. The condition is usually spotted in early childhood or around puberty. Symptoms include one or both testes failing to descend properly or fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen.
The condition is usually discovered during surgery to treat these problems. However in very exceptional cases the problem is not picked up by medics until adulthood, during which time the patient may have experienced blood in the semen or urine after starting periods, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The 37-year-old said he has experienced strange symptoms for years, such as a dull ache after sex, but his concerns were always brushed aside by medics. Specialists have since discovered that, as well has having typical exterior male genitalia, he also has an interior uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
The man is suffering from a rare genetic disorder and may even be able to get pregnant. He is now preparing for surgery to remove the womb having lived his whole life as a 'red blooded' male. Doctors say this is the best way to treat the condition, but have warned him that he could start the menopause once the operation is complete.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare genetic disorder which occurs when the body fails to produce or respond to certain hormones while developing during pregnancy. Every foetus contains the beginnings of a womb, known as the Mullerian duct, but if the baby is male then it will produce hormones meaning this reduces and then disappears all together. However in those with PMDS the body either does not produce these hormones, or does not react to them properly, meaning the duct develops into a functioning womb.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is a genetic condition which means that both sets of genitals will form. Symptoms include one or both testicles failing to descend, and fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen. Because these hormones do not affect the growth of the pen*s, it means the child will also develop typical exterior male genitals.
The syndrome is believed to be extremely rare, although the exact number of cases each year is largely unknown. The condition is usually spotted in early childhood or around puberty. Symptoms include one or both testes failing to descend properly or fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen.
The condition is usually discovered during surgery to treat these problems. However in very exceptional cases the problem is not picked up by medics until adulthood, during which time the patient may have experienced blood in the semen or urine after starting periods, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.