Uterus Transplants Are Leading to Healthy Pregnancies
By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2024 -- Uterine transplants are relatively rare and recent -- the first was performed in 2011, and to date a little more than 100 transplants have been conducted worldwide.
However, a new study finds that these procedures are often successful, leading to pregnancies and live births in 14 out of the 20 patients assessed.
"A successfully transplanted uterus is capable of functioning at least on par with a native, in situ uterus," concludeD a team led by Dr. Liza Johannesson, of Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Her team published its findings Aug. 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
As the researchers explained, uterus transplants are typically needed by women with what's known as "absolute uterine infertility," a condition affecting about 1 in every 500 women where the organ is either dysfunctional or absent.
In the past these women would have had to resort to adoption or surrogacy, but 13 years ago doctors first transplanted a donated uterus in a woman with uterine infertility.
Since then the procedure has gained acceptance, and by May of this year, 43 uterus transplants conducted in the United States have resulted in 33 live births, Johannesson's group said.
Just how successful are these transplants?
The Dallas team tracked outcomes for 20 women averaging 30 years of age who opted for uterus transplant at their facility between 2016 and 2019.
Organs came from 18 living donors and 2 deceased donors.
In 14 of the women who underwent uterus transplant, the operation was successful, the study found, and "all 14 recipients gave birth to at least 1 live-born infant."
Complications were common and occurred in 50% of these pregnancies, with gestational high blood pressure and preterm labor being two of the most common.
However, "congenital abnormalities and developmental delays have not occurred to date in [any of] the live-born children," the researchers noted.
Overall, uterus transplant was "technically feasible and was associated with a high live birth rate," the team concluded.
Sources
- JAMA, Aug. 14, 2024
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Dr. Robert Jarvik, Inventor of First Human Artificial Heart, Dies at 79
FRIDAY, May 30, 2025 — Dr. Robert Jarvik, the man behind the world’s first permanent artificial heart used in a human, has died. He was 79, The New York Times...
Military Service Might Protect Against Depression
FRIDAY, May 30, 2025 — The mentally scarred, deeply depressed combat veteran is an indelible stereotype promoted by movies and TV. The post-traumatic stress and despair...
Parents Can Sense Potential Critical Illness In Their Kids, Study Says
FRIDAY, May 30, 2025 — A parent’s instincts regarding their child’s health usually are right on the money, even when they’ve taken the child to an ER, a...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.