Anja Christoffersen was born with two vaginas due to rare condition

A model lives with “many consequences” after having reconstructive surgery to “fix” issues caused by having two vaginas.

An Australian model with an invisible disability has spoken out about her lifelong struggles after being born with a rare congenital condition.

Anja Christoffersen, 26, from the Sunshine Coast, was diagnosed with VACTERL association, a complex group of birth defects that happen in the early stages of embryo development during pregnancy.

Those affected by the disorder can be born with vertebral abnormalities, anal abnormalities, cardiac issues, tracheo-esophageal issues, renal anomalies and limb abnormalities.

It affects anywhere from one in 10,000 to 40,000 births globally and the cause is unknown.

In Ms Christoffersen’s case, she has no limb abnormalities, but was born with two vaginas and no anal canal.

Her exact condition is so unique, only one in 50,000 children are born with it, she told The Courier Mail.

“As a child I didn’t even know there was anything wrong with me,” she said.

“I basically spent my first five years of life living in hospital because I had so many surgeries and admissions.

The model, who has walked the runways in Amsterdam’s Fashion Week, discussed the realities of living without a “bum hole” on TikTok, revealing that despite having lived with VACTERL association all of her life, it is still hard for her to describe.

“No matter how many times I talk about this I still feel vulnerable,” she shared.

“Being born with one pelvic opening instead of three is a very strange thing to try and explain.

“So my two vaginas, my urethra and my anal opening all come out in one hole. As a woman, we’re supposed to have three. I had one.”

Ms Christoffersen went on to explain that she had her first surgery at 5 hours old to be fitted with a colostomy and vesicostomy fitted “just so I could get waste out of my body”.

She also described having a full pelvic reconstruction at just seven months old, describing in detail how the “major surgery” to have the three holes she needed “remade” left her with “many consequences” throughout her life.

Anja Christoffersen, 26, is speaking out about life with an invisible disability. Picture: Instagram/anjachristoffersen

She added: “While I may use humour to hide behind the tougher bits, it has been a challenge to manage a lifelong rare and complex medical condition that was framed as something you were born with and could be ‘fixed’.”

Her condition has also given her lifelong issues with eating, as initially she was born with no access to her stomach, because her food pipe was joined to her air pipe, she explained in a second video.

Once again, she had multiple surgeries to “fix” this, but was left with damage that means her food pipe doesn’t work well.

“I actually can’t swallow. I don’t have any contractions in my food pipe so eating and drinking can be quite challenging as it is gravity functional only,” she told the Courier Mail.

“Incontinence is a challenge because when I was reconstructed I didn’t have a sphincter or any nerves or muscles that could really tell me when I need to go to the bathroom.”

She was born with VACTERL association, which gave her two vaginas but no anal opening. Picture: Instagram/anjachristoffersen

The Sunshine Coast woman is a model and chronic illness advocate. Picture: Instagram/anjachristoffersen

Another issue she faces after receiving an additional vagina at birth is potential pregnancy issues.

“Along with having two vaginas, that also comes with two uteruses and what comes along with that is challenges with having a baby,” she added.

“I should be able to have children but only able to carry them to about seven months. Hopefully that happens one day but who knows.”

Despite her challenges, Ms Christoffersen – who is disability and chronic illness advocate at the Women with Disabilities Entrepreneur Network – said she “grew up with the belief that I could do whatever I set my mind to, despite my congenital condition”.

“It doesn’t have to have an impact on your quality of life and the dreams that you can achieve,” she shared in a powerful video on TikTok.

She’s also the founder and ceo of Shh*t Happens, an FSC certified, disability owned eco-friendly essentials company.

Many have been blown away by the model’s strength, praising her for speaking out.

“All I can think of is you being a baby and being in pain after the surgeries,” one wrote.

“You are a very courageous woman,” another shared.

Originally published as Anja Christoffersen was born with two vaginas due to rare condition