UK Aims For 10 Womb Transplants By 2016
Right from 2016, British doctors have been sanctioned the approval to undertake ten womb transplants in a clinical trial.
A uterine or womb transplant, or surgical operation, is supposed to be conducted on a woman who does not have a womb when she is born, or has lost her womb due to cancer. In October 2014, a 36-year-old woman, who underwent the first successful transplant and received her womb from a 61-year-old, got pregnant and had a successful delivery, according to The Lancet.
It excited the U.K. Research Team led by J. Richard Smith, a consultant gynecologist at the West London Gynaecological Cancer Centre, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College London.
By 2016, they hope to start their tests on women below 38 years with a healthy weight, and in a long-term relationship. It is also important for the participants to have healthy ovaries that are able to produce eggs.
The womb transplant was first performed in Sweden. However, it is possible for the wombs to be received from brain-dead donors. The NHS Blood and Transplant works with the researchers to see that the guidelines are followed, especially about the donations.
With successful transplants, the first U.K.-born babies from such wombs would be born in 2017.
"I've met many of the women who want this and it's really important for them and their partners. There is no doubting that, for many couples, childlessness is a disaster," Smith told The Independent. "Infertility is a difficult thing to treat for these women. Surrogacy is an option, but it does not answer the deep desire that women have to carry their own baby. For a woman to carry her own baby - that has to be a wonderful thing."
About 300 applications have been filed by women who are willing and ready to contribute to the trial. About 104 of them are qualified. Each procedure would cost up to £50,000 ($75,600) which would be borne by the organization, according to HNGN.
