First Successful Recipient of Uterus Transplant Gives Birth

This is really a milestone achievement in the world of medical sciences. Finally, rays of light have shone on the path of women with uterine-factor infertility; Uterus transplant it is.

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This feat was achieved at the Baylor University medical centre, Dallas; where Dr Liza Johannesson (ob-gyn & uterus transplant surgeon), performed the surgery with the team of physicians. According to Dr Liza, the preparation started a considerably long time ago, but the feat has been achieved.

How does uterus transplantation work?

 First of all, I’ll like to state that there must be a suitable donor. In this case, the uterus was donated by a 36 years old nurse; Taylor Siler. Her words left me in tears.

I have successfully had children and I want to pass the gift to someone that hasn’t. – Taylor Siler

It took about 5 hours to extract the uterus from Taylor, and about another 5 hours for the actual transplantation. This is actually the first uterus recipient to give birth. But it has also been confirmed that another recipient is currently pregnant. 

The image below shows how uterus transplantation works.

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Also, research has been made to use uterus from moribund (currently deceased) to achieve the same effect.

The future of reproduction and fertility

As researches are underway in the area of uterus transplant, other parallel technologies are springing up (like Bionic womb, External womb, Robotic conception, Synthetic babies). All these are opening up the world to alternative means of solving the uterus-factor infertility, and also for people born without uterus (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome. Very rare though). Now people will have many options to choose from. 

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Whether it is by uterus transplant, or other means, they’re achieving the same affect; which is “reproduction”.

Price of this procedure

I know this is where the mind of the average human will go to. Well, the uterus transplant is currently on the high side: about $500,000 for the procedure (I quickly converted this to our local Nigerian Naira and it gave me about N175million. Mehn, that’s huge). And this does not rule out the fact that the procedure can go awry. And in that case, your money will be completely lost.

But with researches, the issue of cost would be taken care of sooner than later. Science and Technology can only get better.

Tech Rules!

References for further reading: Ref1, Ref2, Ref3