Can Abby and Brittany Hensel Become Mothers? The World-Famous Conjoined Twins Break New Ground

For decades, Abby and Brittany Hensel have fascinated the world — not just because they’re conjoined twins, but because of the grace and strength with which they navigate life. Now, a deeply personal question is gaining attention again: Can Abby and Brittany become mothers?

Their journey began in the public eye when they were just six years old, appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996. Years later, their lives were documented on TLC’s reality show Abby & Brittany, which followed them through college and into adulthood.

“People have been curious about us since we were born, for obvious reasons,” the twins once said on their show.

“But our parents never let us use that as an excuse. We were raised to believe we could do anything we wanted to do.”

Anatomy of a Unique Bond

Abby and Brittany share a circulatory system and all organs below the waist. Abby controls the right side of their body, while Brittany controls the left. Their parents, Patty and Mike Hensel, made the difficult decision not to pursue separation surgery early on, after doctors warned it would likely cost one or both of their lives.

“How could you choose one child over the other?” their father, Mike, told *Time* magazine in 2001.

Despite their unique anatomy, the twins have grown into vibrant, independent adults. And in recent years, a surprising development turned heads again.

Abby Quietly Married in 2021

Public records confirm that Abby Hensel married Josh Bowling, a nurse and U.S. Army veteran, in 2021. Though the couple kept their wedding private, photos have since surfaced showing a joyful and loving relationship.

Their marriage reignited an old and lingering question: Could the twins become mothers one day?

Is Motherhood Possible?

While many assume pregnancy would be impossible for conjoined twins, the answer may be more nuanced. In the documentary Joined For Life, mother Patty Hensel revealed that both daughters have expressed a strong desire to have children. She also shared that their shared organs are healthy and functional, keeping the possibility of motherhood on the table.

“Yeah, we are going to be mums one day, but we don’t want to talk about how it’s going to work yet,” Abby said in an earlier documentary.

Though they haven’t publicly detailed medical specifics, their desire for children remains clear — and deeply personal.

Intimacy, Privacy, and Public Curiosity

The Hensel twins have always guarded their privacy, especially regarding their intimate lives. While they have one set of genitals, the way they each experience physical touch varies. According to bioethicist Alice Dreger, writing for The Atlantic:

“We don’t know whether both experience orgasm simultaneously… Sensation varies greatly from one twin to another in different parts of the body.”

On the topic of intimacy and emotional connection, Dreger adds:

“The biology geek in me wants to say the happy hormones from a good kiss probably reach both brains. But… when your sister gets kissed and you don’t, it’s quite possible the unhappy hormones end up standing at the gate.”

She suggests that conjoined twins may seek romantic intimacy less than most people, not because of dysfunction, but because their lifelong bond may fulfill many emotional needs.

A Shared Life, Lived on Their Own Terms

Today, Abby and Brittany Hensel continue to live life on their terms. They’re teachers, sisters, and role models who challenge what it means to live a “normal” life — whatever that means.

Through photos, videos, and quiet resilience, they continue to inspire. Whether or not motherhood is in their future, their story reminds the world of one thing: differences can be beautiful.