Calay News
The inaugural womb transplant in the U.K. has been hailed as an immense triumph, potentially opening the door for future endeavors of a similar kind. The surgical feat involved a 34-year-old woman who suffered from type I Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, resulting in an underdeveloped womb that hindered her ability to conceive. Her sister, aged 40 and a mother of two, selflessly donated her uterus in a bid to aid her sibling’s dream of childbirth.
The procedure, an intricate process that spanned two surgeries lasting a collective 18 hours, was conducted earlier this year. Though the transplant was successfully executed, it has only recently been publicly documented in a case report published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While womb transplants remain relatively rare, having been performed in only a few countries, around 100 have been carried out globally, with approximately 49 recipients subsequently giving birth.
Nevertheless, these procedures are not without risks and potential complications, as recipients are required to take anti-rejection medication with potential serious side effects. The patient in this instance is anticipated to undergo a maximum of two pregnancies with the donor womb before its removal. This pioneering surgery was led by Isabel Quiroga, a consultant transplant surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals, and Professor Richard Smith, a consultant gynecologist at Imperial College Hospital London. The endeavor was financed by Womb Transplant U.K., a charity chaired by Professor Smith.
The medical team has been authorized to conduct 15 transplants, each costing approximately £25,000 ($32,000), but further funding will be required to complete these procedures. The hope is that this initial success will create a path for more women to access donor uteruses, benefiting those who have had their wombs removed for health reasons. This milestone marks the culmination of 25 years of British research, which has paved the way for preserving fertility in women with specific gynecological cancers. While acknowledging that it is still early days, Professor Smith expressed his optimism that the recipient will progress well, potentially giving birth in the coming years, and the team aspires to perform more transplants, contingent on securing funding and additional donors.
