Uterus transplantation technology has been taken to a new level, as for the first time in the medical history of US, a Texas hospital transplanted four uterus using living donors.
The first ever uterus transplant in the US was performed this February using a deceased donor, but unfortunately, it was not successful because of a common yeast infection.
Out of the four transplants, three of them have been unsuccessful as they weren’t getting enough blood flow. But the last one seems to be thriving well, and a statement from the hospital described their sentiments as “cautiously optimistic” about the well being of this uterus.
Lead surgeon at Baylor University Medical Centre in Dallas, Giuliano Testa said in an interview,
“This is the way we advance, from learning from our mistakes. I am not ashamed of being the one who will be remembered as the guy who did four [transplants] in the beginning and three failed. Even if through failure, I am going to make this work.”
Uterus is usually needed for patients suffering from a condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, in which they are born without a uterus. Other than that, women with damaged, or removed uterus can benefit from this technique to have a chance of getting pregnant and bearing a child.
But despite this early success, the procedure remains highly experimental and prone to failure. And it requires a lot more research and attention before it can be safely practised. It is also very expensive, and not every patient can bear the financial cost
How The Transplant Works:
The uterus and part of the vagina are taken from a living donor. The uterus is then to the recipient’s blood supply by the surgeons along the vagina and pelvis. No nerves are required to be attached. In ideal cases, after about 6-12 months a woman with a transplanted uterus should be ready to have a kid. Vitro fertilisation is required for pregnancy, which is a procedure where the egg is fertilised outside the body, and then implanted into the uterus since the uterus is not connected to the ovaries. And the mother will have to give birth via a C-section due to the fragility of the uterus.
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