EXCLUSIVE: Pictured for the first time: The British businessman set to have a hysterectomy after discovering he has a WOMB as well as normal male organs
By Alison Smith-squire and Laurie Hanna For Mailonline.
Duane Walters, 37, recently discovered the
Extent of his unique conditionHe is set to become the first British male ever to undergo a hysterectomyCondition was discovered when doctors feared he had cancer He revealed: 'Telling my mum was the worst thing. She just cried'Partner Katie Morris said: 'It hasn't changed how I feel about Duane'Surgeons will now remove womb, but say it could start the menopause+12Shock: Mr Walters learn he has a fully functioning womb in addition to the typical male genitalia after suffering from a rare genetic disorder
And Miss Morris. who has two children from a previous relationship, said she is standing by her man and added: 'It hasn't changed how I feel about Duane. He is just Duane – a loving, caring individual – a man who is my soulmate. 'He is a wonderful stepdad is still the same person to me.'That's why we are being open about this. If anything it's brought us both closer – he's not going through this alone. We are going to face the future together. Mr Walters revealed how he experienced strange symptoms for years, such as a dull ache after sex, but his concerns were always brushed aside by medics.But specialists have since discovered that, as well has having typical exterior male genitalia, he also has an interior uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.Now, Mr Walters and his partner Katie Morris, 35, have spoken exclusively to MailOnline in a bid to raise awareness of his condition.Last night, holding hands in their three bedroom semi-detached house in Lancashire, the well-spoken couple - who have been unsuccessfully trying for a baby of their own for two years - told how the 'utterly devastating' discovery has turned their world upside down.His condition was discovered when doctors tested him for bladder cancer after he had suffered repeatedly from blood in his urine.Meanwhile, the couple say that while breaking the news to family and friends has been extremely difficult, they have been overwhelmed with support. Mr Walters said: 'I've only told a handful close friends but everyone has been very supportive. Telling my mum was the worst thing. She just cried. It is so hard to understand. 'But ultimately we have all taken comfort from the fact I am not dying and at least now I hopefully have the chance to become a dad.'+12Shock: Mr Walters and his partner Katie Morris say that while breaking the news to family and friends has been extremely difficult, they have been overwhelmed with support+12Support: Miss Morris said: 'It hasn't changed how I feel about Duane. He is just Duane – a loving, caring individual – a man who is my soulmate'
And Miss Morris. who has two children from a previous relationship, said she is standing by her man and added: 'It hasn't changed how I feel about Duane. He is just Duane – a loving, caring individual – a man who is my soulmate. 'He is a wonderful stepdad is still the same person to me.'That's why we are being open about this. If anything it's brought us both closer – he's not going through this alone. We are going to face the future together.
Miss Morris is supporting Mr Walters and said: 'If anything it's brought us both closer – he's not going through this alone. We are going to face the future together'Recalling the moment that he was told the astonishing news, Mr Walters said: 'Katie and I went to see the consultant and were very worried it was going to be bad news. 'So when he said I should sit down as he had something to tell me, I was shaking. I replied, "Am I going to die?". I was convinced it was cancer. 'But then he said, 'No, but I am going to tell you something it's going to be hard to get your head around".''He then went on to explain the scan had located a fully functioning uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and I even had a cervix.
He struggled to fully explain it.
He said he was an experienced doctor but in his whole career he'd never seen anything like it.''And further tests would be needed to discover how the bleeding was appearing in my urine but he believed I was having periods.'He explains: 'I was completely shocked. Of course I was relieved it wasn't cancer. I was also relieved that at last I knew what was wrong - because for all of my life I'd believed something wasn't quite right. Now I knew I hadn't been imagining all the strange symptoms.'Miss Morris added: 'We were both utterly devastated. Never did we imagine this would be the diagnosis. But it made sense. 'Before the bleeding episodes, Duane often complained of back ache and was sometimes moody. Now I can see there was familiar a pattern and he was suffering from period pains and PMT.' +12Baby: Mr Walters believes his problems began as a six month-old baby when his mother took him to the doctor with a suspected hernia, which turned out to be a undescended testicle+12Young: Mr Walters experienced no symptoms growing up and said: 'As a child I didn't have any other problems and went through puberty normally developing a deep voice and body hair'+12Young:
Mr Walters experienced no symptoms growing up and said: 'As a child I didn't have any other problems and went through puberty normally developing a deep voice and body hair'Mr Walters believes his problems began as a six month-old baby when his mother took him to the doctor with a suspected hernia.He said: 'It turned out to be an undescended testicle – a common problem, which was successfully operated on – but I believe it was a sign all wasn't well and should have been investigated further.'As a child I didn't have any other problems and went through puberty normally developing a deep voice and body hair. But as I reached my teens and twenties I began experiencing discomfort – a dull ache – during and after sex.'I knew it wasn't right but doctors always fobbed me off and for a long time I thought it must all be in my mind.'From the age of 18, he was also frequently experiencing bleeding in his urine.He said: 'Tests – including one where doctors inserted a camera inside the bladder – revealed nothing wrong but over the years I visited my GP numerous times with the same worrying symptoms. 'I had more tests and scans but nothing showed up. I feel angry now that I was always told it was nothing to worry about.'+12Love: Mr Walters and Miss Morris met five years ago and the couple are now trying for a baby+12Treatment: The couple were undergoing IVF treatment in their attempts to have a baby, but are now dealing with Mr Walters conditionFive years ago, Mr Walters says he met Miss Morris, a chef, at a party. Two years ago, the pair began trying for a baby.He said: 'Katie already has two children aged 12 and eight from a previous relationship so when she didn't get pregnant, I realised it was likely to be a problem with me.'Sperm analysis showed a normal amount of sperm - but fertility doctors explained many of them weren't healthy enough to fertilise an egg naturally. In January 2014, Mr Walters and Miss Morris embarked on a course of IVF, using a treatment called intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, where doctors pick out a healthy sperm and inject it directly into an egg in a test tube. If the egg develops into a healthy embryo, it is then transferred into the woman's uterus in the hope it will result in a pregnancy.He said: 'We went through three attempts. The first time - at a private clinic which cost £3,500 - my sperm fertilized the egg but it didn't result in a pregnancy.'On the second go on the NHS, we were delighted when Katie got pregnant - but devastated when she had a very early miscarriage.'On the third try, again on the NHS, my sperm did fertilise an egg but it didn't result in a pregnancy.'We were both so upset as we long to have a baby together.
'The ce for growing a penis, the male reproductive organs will also develop.Symptoms include one or both testicles failing to descend, and fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen.If the condition goes undiscovered into puberty, blood may also occur in the semen or urine after periods start.'And then I will have to undergo chromosome tests to see if how much of a male or female I am – or if I could actually be both.' Mr Walters has now been referred to a specialist in Manchester for further hormone tests, a closer examination of his reproductive sytem and how all of the organs are attached, followed by a full hysterectomy. Surgery is necessary because having a female reproductive system leaves him at risk of contracting female cancers. The operation to remove his uterus is set to take place within six weeks.He said: 'Right now, as I need to have more tests, I haven't had an official named diagnosis. No-one knows exactly what this condition is – even if any other man has ever had it before. 'It is very worrying. Katie and I are both extremely concerned about what the future will bring.'But the couple say they are now considering legal action as they believe the diagnosis should have been made years ago.Says Miss Morris: 'Going through all the IVF was traumatic. I long to make Duane a dad and it's just been heartbreaking that it hasn't happened. But it now appears all the heartbreaking fertility treatment we endured was always going to be a waste of time. 'The consultant said Duane's sperm will need further analysis. But it might be because of this his sperm is missing a vital component and he could never achieve a lasting pregnancy.'We do feel extremely angry that considering all the expensive fertility treatment we endured, this was never picked up. 'We both feel it should have been a basic requirement to check Duane out thoroughly – and undertaken scans to ensure his reproductive system was in order before we went ahead.'Ironically there is a possibility Mr Walters could be producing his own eggs – and as he has a fully functional uterus could even carry a baby himself. +12Future:Miss Morris said: 'I long to make Duane a dad and it's just been heartbreaking that it hasn't happened'But he said: 'Much as I long to be a dad even if this is possible, getting pregnant and carrying a baby myself is not something I will be looking into. It would simply feel too weird.'Further tests will include examining his genetic make up to see if he XY (male) or XX (female) or another rare combination of XY chromosomes – and the couple hope will yield a proper diagnosis.He said: 'While biologically it is possible hormone tests will show I am both male and female, I feel completely right living life as a guy.
what a discovery .well guys what do you think ? See pictures after the cut.
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