Living with Two Uteruses, Endometriosis, and Overcoming Infertility

At her first pap smear at age 15, La-Anna Douglas’s doctor couldn’t locate her cervix, yet no follow-up tests or referrals were made. "Since I started my menstrual cycle at the age of 10, I always had horrible menstrual cycles, just debilitating periods," she recalls.

For years, she endured severe cramping—three to four days on her right side, then three to four days on her left. Doctors continued to disregard her pain.

 "I felt like my pain was being minimized," she says. "I was labeled as the girl with bad periods instead of being given answers."

Now widely known through her platform Hope Still Stands, La-Anna is a women's advocate, model, and brand ambassador dedicated to inspiring others through her personal journey with infertility. Her mission is to ensure that no one else has to suffer in silence like she did for years.

A Shocking Discovery: Two Uteruses, Two Cervixes

It wasn’t until La-Anna and her husband struggled to conceive that she began to uncover the truth about her reproductive health. After months of unsuccessful attempts, she was sent for a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), a procedure in which dye is injected into the uterus.

"'You don’t have half a uterus—you have two.'"

"I am screaming. I am crying. I'm pulling at my husband. I’ve had horrible cramps, but this pain was unbearable," she recalls. Immediately after the procedure, the radiologist delivered shocking news: "Mrs. Douglas, you have half a uterus."

Confused and frustrated, La-Anna sought answers from a trusted physician at the hospital where she worked. "He puts the films on the screen, looks at them, and says, ‘La-Anna, you don’t have half a uterus—you have two.’"

La-Anna had a rare congenital condition known as uterus didelphys, meaning she was born with two uteruses and two cervixes.

Diagnosed with Endometriosis, PCOS, and Fibroids

Following this revelation, La-Anna found a reproductive endocrinologist who performed a thorough examination. "She did a detailed exam, and I was screaming, crying again," she remembers. "She said, ‘You have two cervixes.’"

Laparoscopic surgery confirmed more diagnoses: endometriosis, fibroids, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). "All those years, my right uterus was filling up with blood," she explains. "That’s why I was having those horrible accidents at work and school."

Infertility and IVF Heartbreak

Despite multiple surgeries to open her cervix and remove scar tissue, conceiving naturally proved impossible. Clomid, a common fertility drug, was unsuccessful. Because of her unique anatomy, she wasn’t a candidate for intrauterine insemination (IUI). Her only option was in vitro fertilization (IVF).

After six years of fertility treatments, La-Anna and her husband moved forward with IVF. "We ended up with 19 eggs, and six were viable," she recalls. "We transferred one embryo, and I was just so sure this was it."

But when the call came with the results, the nurse said the words she feared most: "It’s negative."

"I remember this yell, this wailing cry that came out of me," she says. "I was so depressed. I told my husband to move on without me. I was at my lowest."

Finding Hope and a Miracle Pregnancy

One night, consumed by despair, La-Anna considered ending her life. "I was holding a knife, trying to decide which one was sharp enough," she admits. "But then I heard God’s voice say, ‘Your life has a purpose, La-Anna. Hope still stands.’"

 "I want women to know: You are not alone. Your pain is real. You deserve answers. You are worthy of love."

Her husband’s unwavering love and reassurance helped her heal. "He told me, ‘I love you with or without children.’ I needed to hear that."

Six months later, without fertility treatments, La-Anna woke up with an unshakable urge to take a pregnancy test. "I looked down, and there were two lines. I was in shock."

After eight years of infertility, she was pregnant—naturally.

A High-Risk Pregnancy and Preterm Birth

Given her complex anatomy, La-Anna’s pregnancy was high-risk. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia, leading to an early delivery at 32 weeks. "They said she’d be in the NICU for six weeks, but she only stayed two. She was our miracle baby."

Now, La-Anna uses her platform, Hope Still Stands, to educate and support other women facing infertility. "I want women to know: You are not alone. Your pain is real. You deserve answers. You are worthy of love."

The Power of Advocacy and Never Giving Up

La-Anna’s journey highlights the importance of self-advocacy. "No question is stupid. Write them down. Ask for a second, third, even fourth opinion. Don’t stop until you get answers," she urges.

She emphasizes that medical professionals often dismiss women’s pain, but that should never silence them. "I was once timid, but now I’m vocal. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Demand tests. Advocate for yourself."

Her final message: "Never give up. There is still hope."