Is it possible for doctors to discover teeth in a vagina?

Across various cultures, a myth persists about vagina dentata, a Latin term meaning "toothed vagina." This legend suggests that a woman's vagina could contain teeth, posing a risk to men during intercourse. This concept even made its way into a 2007 dark comedy. But could such a phenomenon actually exist?

In a way, yes. Picture a woman experiencing severe pelvic and lower back pain. A medical examination uncovers a mass on her left ovary, roughly the size of a clementine. Further X-rays reveal an unexpected detail: a dense formation within the tumor.

The tumor contains teeth.

While it may sound bizarre, tumors developing teeth is not unheard of. Teeth often grow in specific types of tumors or cysts. Ovarian dermoid cysts, or mature teratomas, account for 20 percent of ovarian tumors. These cysts originate from an ovary's germ cells, which are foundational cells capable of forming any human tissue. Instead of developing into a functional fetus, these cells can sometimes create a disorganized mass containing bone, hair, skin, and teeth [source: Hamilton].

Dermoid cysts are typically benign and removed through surgery. In rare cases, they may cause pain or discomfort. Such occurrences might have inspired myths about vaginal teeth. In reality, encountering a vagina requiring dental care is nearly impossible. These tales likely served as warnings, leveraging fears of castration to deter men from assaulting or engaging with unfamiliar women [source: Rankin].

Toothed teratoma tumors have appeared in unusual locations, such as an Indian woman's eye and an American boy's foot. They aren't the only tumors where teeth have been discovered. For instance, an infant boy underwent brain surgery to remove a craniopharyngioma tumor, which contained several teeth. What intrigued doctors was that the tumor consisted of a single cell type, unlike the multi-layered germ cells that typically form diverse tissues like organs, skin, bones, and teeth [source: Bachai].