HOW CONJOINED TWINS BRITTANY AND ABBY HENSEL MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE- INCLUDING DRIVING, EATING AND HAVING SEX
Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel have been making headlines in recent days after it was revealed one of them had secretly tied the knot.
The sisters share a bloodstream and all the organs from their waist down. Their condition is incredibly rare with some studies suggesting it only happens in one in 200,000 births.
Abby marriage to US army vet and nurse Josh Bowling has sparked debate across the internet, with many wondering about the logistics of their situation- particularly their intimacy.
34 years ago, Minnesota natives Patty and Mike Hensel made the agonising decision not to separate their conjoined twin daughters Abby and Brittany after doctors determined that one of them would likely die.
It's fair to assume that the couple worried if they had made the right decision as they pondered how their girls would get on in life; however, their fears were in vain as Abby and Brittany have successfully managed to live remarkably normal lives.
Brittany, the left twin, can't feel anything on the right hand side of the body while Abby, the right twin, can't feel anything on the left. Their pair's limbs move instinctively as if coordinated by one person.
The sisters, 34, have the capability to do most things a non-conjoined person can- including driving and cooking. They also mastered a number of activities growing up from playing the piano to being involved in sports such as volleyball, cycling, softball and swimming.
Abby and Brittany passed their driving test on their 16th birthday. Each twin uses an arm to control the steering wheel.
Abby takes over the pedals and the shifter, we both steer, and I take over the blinker and the lights,' Brittany explained.
In regards to eating, Abby and Brittany tend to enjoy separate meals but at times share a single meal for convenience. For example, they each take a bit out of the same burger.
The 34-year-olds have two digestive systems, but share a large intestine, small intestine, bladder and excretion system.
However, the question on everyone's mind is how Abby and Brittany handle intimacy- particularly because Abby is now married to her husband Josh.
Although they've never publicly spoken about their sex life, Alice Dreger, a professor of clinical medical humanities and bioethics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, stated that because they share one set of genitals, they would both feel any touching sensation down there.
Dr Dreger said it's unknown whether Abby and Brittany would experience an orgasm at the same time. There is significant variability in the twins' 'feeling' in different body parts, so it's 'hard to guess how any conjoinment will turn out in practice.'
As for whether they'll have children as they share the same reproductive system, Dr Dreger has stated there's no medical reason they shouldn't be able to- the more you know!