More than 70 births came after uterus transplants
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Women who received uterus transplants have delivered more than 70 infants worldwide since the first successful transplant in 2011, with 20 cases at a Texas medical center showing about the same success rate as with natural wombs, per new research in JAMA.
Why it matters: Uterine infertility affects about 1 in 500 women, typically leaving them with few options other than adoption or surrogacy where legally available.
- While there are complications and safety risks with transplants, the procedure is a viable option for women born without a uterus or who've had a hysterectomy but have at least one functioning ovary, the Baylor-led research team wrote.
What they found: 14 patients who had successful transplants at Baylor between 2016 and 2019 had at least one live birth.
- None of the 16 children born during the study period had abnormal physical or mental development.
- Hypertension, vaginal bleeding and premature labor were among the common complications.
Context: The first successful uterus transplant occurred in 2011 in Turkey. Since then, at least 100 procedures have taken place around the world, including 48 in the United States as of May.
How it works: Participants studied in Texas study had in-vitro fertilization followed by embryo transfer into the new womb several months after a successful transplant.
- Women in the study had a median age of 30 and gave birth no more than twice, then had the transplanted uterus removed.
Yes, but: The procedure comes with some safety risks, the study found.
- Patients have to take immunosuppressive drugs. One recipient went into hemorrhagic shock soon after the transplant.
- Researchers also noted it was hard to extend the findings to the broader population because of the prohibitive cost of uterus transplant.
