Woman Born Without WOMB Defies Odds To Have Twin Girls

Hayley Haynes was 19 when she was told by doctors she was genetically a man because she had XY chromosomes rather than the female XX.

She considered her chances of becoming a mother crushed when a consultant revealed she had no womb, ovaries or fallopian tubes.

Hayley told the Mirror: "When they told me I had no womb, I was so confused I felt sick.

"My biggest fear was never having children.

"Suddenly a huge piece of my life was missing.

"I felt like half a woman and was embarrassed.

"How was I going to tell a guy I was genetically male when I started dating."

However, eight years ago a consultant at the Royal Derby Hospital spotted a tiny womb on a scan that had been overlooked in previous imaging tests.

Hayley said "It was only a few millimetres big but it was a start.

"He was optimistic it would grow.

"I still couldn't conceive naturally but I could have the option of IVF."

Hayley began hormone treatment to stimulate the womb and later - aged 22 - she started going out with childhood friend Sam, whom she had known since the age of 16.

She said: "He's been my confidant from Day One, and so supportive.

"I was worried any man would run a mile.

"But with Sam I felt accepted and loved for who I was.

"But we still didn't know if I could have children."

Her womb had developed enough by 2011 for the couple to consider IVF – although their local NHS trust refused to cover the cost of a course of treatment.

They decided to spend £10,500 on an all-or-nothing trip to a Cypriot fertility clinic in April last year.

"I desperately wanted to be a mother and knew if there were no viable eggs or the implantation wasn't successful, I'd be distraught," said Hayley.

"Of the 13 eggs harvested, only two were viable."

Ten days after insemination – and four days earlier than doctors had advised – Hayley took a pregnancy test.

She said: "I peered at the test and it said positive.

"I couldn't contain my happiness.

"I was jumping up and down, and screaming, but Sam kept his cool and made sure we took another test before we celebrated."

It emerged both eggs had been fertilised and the couple were expecting non-identical twins.

Hayley, of Bedford, Beds, gave birth to Avery, weighing 5lbs 30z, and Darcey, at 4lbs 6oz, naturally in December.

She said: "Becoming a mother was the single most amazing moment of my life.

"I had spent nine years coming to terms with the fact this might never happen but in that moment all the pain just washed away."

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