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Research shows uterus transplant patients have higher rate of giving birth to healthy babies
According to a new US study published in JAMA Network, all of the women with uterine factor infertility who underwent successful uterus transplants gave birth to at least one live baby. The researchers also found that even though adverse events were common – including complications requiring surgical intervention – there were no congenital abnormalities or developmental delays in babies born to women who underwent uterus transplants. Read on to learn the causes of uterine infertility.
1 in 500 women worldwide suffer from complete uterine infertility
Uterine transplantation following successful engraftment is associated with higher live birth rates in women with absolute uterine-factor infertility, according to findings from a new case series.
According to a study published in jama networkOf the 20 participants who had uterine transplants between 2016-2019, 14 had successful allografts – and all of them gave birth to at least one live baby. According to the researchers, the findings are highly promising for the approximately 1 in 500 women with absolute uterine infertility, and support further research into the applicability of the transplant procedure with either living or deceased donors.
Organs for transplantation were received from 18 living donors and two deceased donors.
The authors of the study, conducted by Baylor University Medical Center for the Dallas Uterus Transplant Study (DUETS), also said that 11 of the 20 recipients had at least one complication — and 50 percent of successful pregnancies had maternal or obstetric complications, such as gestational hypertension or premature delivery.
“Congenital abnormalities and developmental delays have not been observed in live-born children to date,” the authors wrote. They added, “Since the first successful uterus transplant in 2011, more than 100 uterus transplant procedures have been performed worldwide using grafts obtained from living or deceased donors.”
Uterine infertility is extremely common
According to statistics, approximately 1 in 500 women are affected by absolute uterine infertility — the inability to conceive because the woman either does not have a uterus or her uterus is not functioning. The condition can be genetic or acquired. “The development of uterine transplantation offers an option for women with absolute uterine infertility to experience pregnancy and childbirth,” the authors wrote.
And these births are not isolated. More than 100 uterus transplant procedures have been performed worldwide since the first successful transplant in 2011. “Although no registry exists that reports the exact number of live births resulting from these procedures, it is estimated that more than 70 live births occur worldwide,” the authors wrote.
What causes complete uterine infertility? In women?
According to experts, uterine infertility is caused by the following factors:
Birth without a uterus
Doctors say many women are born without a uterus or with a malformed uterus – a condition known as Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. This is a rare congenital disorder that also causes your vagina to disappear. MRKH is usually diagnosed during adolescence when the menstrual cycle does not start as expected.
Uterine Cancer
Many women with uterine cancer must have their uterus completely removed to prevent cancer cells from spreading to other reproductive organs.
Severe endometriosis
Severe endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and adenomyosis cause symptoms such as pelvic pain, bowel and bladder problems, and heavy bleeding during menstruation.
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