Celebrated as a "fertility treatment revolution," the first-ever womb transplant in the United Kingdom (UK) involved a 40-year-old woman with two children aiding her 34-year-old sister born without a uterus.
UK's First Womb Transplant a Massive Success
Innovative and successful, the UK's first womb transplant ignites hopes for replication. A 34-year-old woman, grappling with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, received her sister's uterus to combat infertility.
The 18-hour two-part surgery marks a major achievement. Scheduled anonymously for later this year, an embryo transfer might culminate in pregnancy. The transplant, carried out earlier this year, was unveiled in a British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology report, titled "Living donor uterus transplant in the UK: A case report," on August 22.
Womb transplants are infrequent occurrences, having been conducted in only a few nations. Globally, approximately 100 surgeries have been performed, with at least 49 leading to successful births. In the United States, 33 women underwent womb transplants from 2016 to 2021.
Nevertheless, these procedures entail risks and potential complications, demanding recipients to manage anti-rejection medication with potential severe side effects.
In this recent instance, the recipient anticipates the eventual removal of the donor womb after a maximum of two pregnancies, though some women have had to undergo earlier removals than initially planned.
Oxford University Hospitals' Isabel Quiroga and Imperial College Hospital London's Professor Richard Smith led the successful womb transplant funded by Womb Transplant U.K. With approval for 15 procedures, each costing approximately £25,000 ($32,000).
This breakthrough paves the way for wider access to donor uteruses, benefiting women who have lost their wombs for health reasons. The surgery is the culmination of 25 years of British research into preserving fertility in women with certain gynecologic cancers.
Professor Smith expressed his satisfaction with the "massive success" of the procedure and conveyed the recipient's and donor's joy. He aims to conduct more transplants pending funding and donors, hoping to assist more women with underdeveloped wombs in the future.
Quiroga expressed that it is a privilege conducting the successful transplant, noting the smooth operations and the positive recovery of the donor and recipient. She eagerly anticipates a future where the procedure becomes widespread, granting more women the chance to have their child.
Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser syndrome (MRKH) Explained
MRKH is a congenital condition marked by a shortened vagina, lack of cervix, and absent or underdeveloped uterus. While the ovaries function normally, producing eggs and female hormones.
This condition comes in two types: Type I and Type II, which includes extra variations like altered urinary tract and kidney development, hearing issues, or bone changes. Approximately 40% of those with MRKH have Type II, and the condition impacts 1 in 5,000 women.
Women with MRKH typically realize their condition during puberty; while they experience breast and pubic hair development, the absence of periods occurs due to ovaries producing female hormones necessary for puberty but lacking a uterus.
Due to the absence of a uterus, pregnancy and carrying a baby naturally is not possible, but In vitro fertilization (IVF) surrogacy offers an option. Eggs can be fertilized with partner's or donor's sperm and placed in a surrogate's uterus, enabling genetic parenthood. Adoption is another viable option for those seeking alternatives or a womb transplant like the woman from the UK.
RELATED ARTICLE: Trans Women Could Be Getting Womb Transplants in Near Future, Fertility Experts Say
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