The chance to become a mother: 6 Facts About Uterine Transplant

The first in the history of organ transplant from person to person has been made by the Soviet surgeon in 1933. Since that time, people learned to transplant kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas.

Only in the late 20th century, scientists began talking about a uterus transplant. Now it is the only way to get rid of infertility cases that were previously considered incurable - the absence of the uterus or its insufficient development. Heroine will describe what is known about this operation and whether the uterus transplantation soon become common practice.

1. one of the first of the uterine transplants was made trans women

The chance to become a mother: 6 Facts About Uterine Transplant

The first recorded case of uterine implantation surgery is associated with a history of Lili Elbe. This transgender woman known for her film "The Girl from Denmark" with Eddie Redmayne in the title role.

In 1930, Lily was still a man came to the German Weimar to an experimental surgery to sex reassignment. In two years, Lily suffered four operations on her case wrote all the German newspapers. In the fifth step she transplanted uterus, but the body has not caught on, and the Elbe died of infection at the age of 48 years.

2. At the moment, thanks to the uterus transplant 13 children were born in the world

In the late 20th century, the possibility of uterine transplant is actively investigated in Sweden, the USA, Turkey, Saudi Arabia.

The first child born through a uterus transplant has only recently - in 2014 in the Swedish Gothenburg. There are currently aware of 13 such cases, 8 of which occurred in Sweden.

3. Most often the uterus donor to become the next of kin

The chance to become a mother: 6 Facts About Uterine Transplant

The success of the Swedish doctors can partly be explained by the fact that they immediately began to be used as the donor closest living relatives of the patients. In this case the chance that the body will get accustomed much higher.

The uterus is not a vital organ, moreover, it can take a woman came out of the child-bearing age.

In 2011, the Turkish doctors have successfully transplanted to the uterus and fertilize from a deceased donor. However, in the eighth week of pregnancy, the woman had an abortion.

4. The transplanted uterus does not remain in a woman's body forever

Women decide on the uterine transplant to be able to bear a child. After the body will get accustomed, patient doing in vitro fertilization. Natural childbirth the uterus transplant is not possible yet, so that children are born by caesarean section.

After the birth of a child or two transplanted uterus best to remove the woman to stop taking immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs reduce the risk of rejection of the transplanted organ, but suppress the immune system. Effect of immunosuppressants on the mother and fetus is not yet fully understood.

5. Participation in the operation to transplant a uterus for the first time the robot took

The chance to become a mother: 6 Facts About Uterine Transplant

A new breakthrough again made in Sweden - in 2017 there is the first time transplanted uterus with the help of a robot in the world.

While the new technology makes life easier only donor. The human body is made of 5 small holes. Due to such an operation, the donor loses less blood, quickly recovered and discharged from the hospital earlier. Next uterus transplant in the traditional way.

Last year, a woman, which was transplanted uterus using a robot, pregnant. She is due to give birth in the spring.

6. uterus transplant is unlikely to become available in the near future the procedure

Despite the positive experience of experts from different countries, uterus transplant can still be called an experimental operation.

At transplantation of this organ are still many difficulties and find a histocompatible donor - not the most important of them. To bear a child, the uterus must be supplied with blood, which is not always the case in patients with missing birth uterus.

Organ transplantation and subsequent IVF - costly procedure, and the risk that they will fail, is rather high. In this sense, surrogacy - still cheaper and more reliable way to have a baby.

As for Russia, we have a uterus transplantation in general still has not been studied, and the possibility of such transactions have not yet even discussed. In much the same reason that the transplantation of the organ began to develop only in the beginning of the 21st century in the world - it is not a vital organ.

How do you feel about such extreme methods to have a baby?