British medical professionals have accomplished the successful transplantation of a womb.
In a remarkable surgical feat, medical experts at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital achieved the successful transplantation of a sister’s womb to her 34-year-old sibling. The intricate procedure, which spanned a duration of nine hours and 20 minutes, took place on Sunday as reported by local media outlets.
The fortunate recipient, a 36-year-old woman, is now experiencing menstruation for the very first time in her life. Excitingly, plans are underway to implant her own embryos into this transplanted womb, with these embryos having been derived from her personal eggs. This groundbreaking medical achievement holds immense promise for the advancement of transplant surgeries.
Having been born without a uterus, the woman received an incredible act of kindness from her 40-year-old sister, a mother of two, who selflessly donated her own uterus.
Reflecting on the triumphant surgical procedure, Professor Richard Smith, one of the lead surgeons responsible for the operation, expressed that it was an enormous achievement. He conveyed the immense happiness surrounding the operation, mentioning that tears of joy were shed in the process.
“It was incredible. I think it was probably the most stressful week in my surgical career but also unbelievably positive,” Richard Smith, the lead surgeon for the operation, told the UK’s Press Association.
“The donor and recipient are over the moon, just over the moon.”
The recipient of the womb, also called a uterus, was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH), a rare condition that impacts women’s reproductive systems.
With the aim of achieving conception, she took the step of preserving her embryos, intending to undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments in the upcoming months.
“Womb Transplant Marks Extraordinary Milestone” – Dr. Raj Mathur, Chairman of the British Fertility Society
Dr. Raj Mathur, Chairman of the British Fertility Society, hailed this development as the beginning of a new era in treating patients. He emphasized that prior to this groundbreaking surgery, medical professionals had struggled to successfully address the needs of individuals without a uterus.
With an approximate price tag of GBP 25,000, excluding the expenses related to the surgical team, the recent medical procedure has garnered attention as a “remarkable achievement.”
Isabel Quiroga, the co-leading surgeon engaged in the procedure, stated that the recipient’s uterus was operating flawlessly.
Read also: Former Oil Minister Alison-Madueke Charged with Bribery by UK Police
Anticipated to remain viable for up to five years, the transplant will eventually entail the removal of the transplanted womb. Throughout this timeframe, the recipient will be required to take immunosuppressant medication to prevent any rejection of the implanted organ, as per the details provided in a report by the Press Association.
Professor Smith confirmed that the woman is now in a position to achieve pregnancy.
“Hopefully that embryo will take, and hopefully nine months later she’ll [have a] Caesarean section,” he said.
“Once she’s had a Caesarean section, she does have a choice – six months later – of a complete hysterectomy or to go and have another baby,” he added.