Aged 17, Saffron Devereux McCarthy started to worry. Unlike her friends, she hadn't begun her period.

At first, she thought it might have something to do with the fact she had been born with a single kidney, positioned unusually in her pelvic region. "My biggest concern was that my kidney was messing with my hormones or organs," she told Newsweek .

Over the next two years, she found herself between specialists and on waiting lists. In early 2024 she was referred to a kidney specialist, only to be told her reproductive concerns were likely unrelated. I broke down in tears.

Further tests were arranged and passed her on to endocrinologists, who ordered bloodwork and an ultrasound. In June 2025, McCarthy finally had the scan she hoped would offer answers, and the results left her stunned

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