In Delhi, a 26-year-old man approached a doctor regarding the problem of not having a child after two years of marriage. During the examination, doctors found that the uterus and fallopian tubes were present inside her body.
However, the treating doctor says that from outside his body looked like a normal man and he also had male physical characteristics. Furthermore, there were no obvious symptoms that could indicate this condition.
According to Dr. Sushil Kharbanda, the chief urologist treating the patient in a private hospital in Delhi, the tests conducted during the infertility test revealed that the uterus and fallopian tubes were also present inside her body.
According to doctors, this is a very rare condition called Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS), which is congenital. So far, less than 300 cases have been registered worldwide.
According to a report published in Nature Reviews Urology, in the case of PMDS, the chromosomes of the person are 46XY and the body develops normally as male. But the organs formed from the Müllerian duct, such as the uterus and fallopian tubes, remain present in the body.
According to a report published in 'Global Journal of Surgery and Case Reports' in January 2026, a uterus-like structure was found on CT scan in a 48-year-old man diagnosed with frequent bleeding in urine and semen.
During the surgery, this two-part structure attached to the prostate was removed. In histopathological examination it was confirmed as uterine tissue. The physical development of the patient was like that of a normal male.
Similarly, a 2019 report mentioned that structures like uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries were found in the body of a one and a half year old child.
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After all, how can a uterus and fallopian tubes exist in a person with male-like physical characteristics? Why does this condition occur and how is it diagnosed? To know the answers to these questions, we talked to Dr. Sushil Kharbanda, the doctor treating the patient.
Question: What was found in this case and how would you explain it in medical language?
Answer: A 26 year old man was married two years ago. He was fully sexually active and had all the secondary sexual characteristics that develop in males.
During investigation of infertility problem, it was found that both his testicles were not in their normal place.
In hormonal tests, testosterone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) were also found normal.
Such results may be found in patients with cryptorchidism or undescended testis.
But during the MRI, a very unusual situation came to light. The examination showed the uterus and fallopian tubes, which were connected to the testicles.
These organs were fully developed from inside, just like they normally are in a woman's body.
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Question: How can the uterus and fallopian tubes exist in a man's body? Could this be a condition present from birth?
Answer: When a child is in the womb, its sex develops due to the influence of chromosomes and hormones. Generally 46XY chromosomes are found in men and 46XX chromosomes are found in women.
During this time, the body produces anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which prevents the development of internal reproductive organs, which do not normally develop in the male body.
If a person has 46XY chromosomes, he develops as a male. During this period, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced in his body.
AMH inhibits the growth of organs like the uterus and fallopian tubes.
But in PMDS either this hormone is not present or there is a problem in its receptor. Because of this, structures like the uterus and fallopian tubes remain inside the body.
Due to this the structure of its internal organs gets separated. Despite this, the external physical structure of the body remains the same as that of a man. The penis and other physical characteristics of men develop normally.
Question: Were ovaries also present along with testicles in this patient?
Answer: In this patient, the uterus and fallopian tubes were present on both sides, but there were no ovaries.
Instead of ovaries, there were testicles in her body. These are the gonads, which are different in men and women. Both the patient's gonads were actually testicles, not ovaries.
Question: Could this condition not have been detected in earlier scans or medical tests?
Answer: When the patient came to us, both his testicles were undescended, that is, they were not in their correct place. Therefore, along with testing hormones, his semen parameters were also tested. Azoospermia, i.e. zero sperm count, was found in the semen.
After this MRI was done. In this, the uterus, fallopian tubes and the testicles attached to them were visible.
After this, chromosomal analysis was done, in which 46XY chromosomes were found. MRI and chromosomal analysis were the main tests to confirm this condition.
It is not that this condition is usually not detected until the age of 26. If the scan had been done on time, this condition could have been detected earlier.
This patient initially did not pay attention to the fact that both his testicles were not in their normal place.
Question: Are there any specific symptoms of this condition?
Answer: In this condition there are usually no specific symptoms like pain, vomiting or fever. One sign of this could be that the testicles are not in their normal place.
Question: What psychological challenges or life changes may the patient face?
Answer: This 26 year old man was worried and stressed after suddenly finding out that organs related to female genitals were present inside his body. He was also worried about his future.
We counseled him for a long time and explained that this is a rare medical condition. Of course, this is a rare condition, but it is not that because of this there will be a big change in his life.
It was necessary to remove these organs because there could be a risk of cancer in them. Now after removal of these organs he can live his life normally.
Question: Is surgery or treatment always necessary in such cases?
Answer: Surgery was necessary in this patient's case. The uterus and fallopian tubes were underdeveloped and had no function in the body.
The biopsy done after surgery also revealed pre-cancerous condition in one of the testicles. Therefore, it was necessary to remove these organs and surgery was a part of the treatment.
Question: What was the impact on the patient's health after the surgery and what will be the impact in the future?
Answer: The patient returned to work seven days after the operation.
Since the testicles make testosterone, his body will no longer produce testosterone after they are removed. Therefore, he will have to get testosterone injections every three months.
Apart from this, there will be no need for any major changes in his sexual or social life.
We performed the surgery laparoscopically, that is, with the help of a telescope. This did not require a larger incision and he could return to work quickly.
Question: What are the common misconceptions among people regarding such matters?
Answer: After this case, questions are being raised whether the patient could have been pregnant, whether she had periods or whether she looked like a woman from outside.
Answer: The lesson learned from this case is that any abnormal change in the body should not be ignored nor should one feel ashamed about it.
In such a situation, a qualified doctor should be contacted in time. If any abnormal structure or lack of any organ is seen in the newborn baby, then medical advice should be sought immediately, as timely identification can help in handling the condition in a better way.
