Womb transplantation approved for ten British women

Womb transplants given UK go-ahead

Womb-Transplant-UK
The first British baby to be born as a result of womb transplantation could arrive as soon as 2017, after doctors in the UK have given the green light for a clinical trial in which ten British women will undergo the procedure. Womb Transplant UK official logo image.

This post content is published by Womb Transplant UK, registered charity 1138559 that wishes to raise £500,000 to fund womb transplantation surgery.

Regulators give permission for ten transplants

The UK Womb Transplant Research team has been granted ethical permission to begin an expanded series of 10 womb transplant operations.

The head of the research team, Mr Richard Smith, a consultant gynaecologist at The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, said he was delighted with the news:

As we have seen from the tremendously successful womb transplant programme being carried out by our colleagues in Sweden, this operation is clearly a viable option for those women who otherwise have absolutely no chance of carrying their own baby.

“Absolute Infertility can bring with it terrible consequences for as many as 50,000 women of childbearing age in the UK who do not have a viable womb. We hope to begin a series of ten operations early in the New Year. However, we still need to raise around half a million pounds so that we can cover the costs of NHS services and complete our programme,” he said.

The womb transplant research programme will be open to women in a long term relationship, who are aged between 25 and 38 and who have normally functioning ovaries and their own eggs. They will be UK resident and will be eligible for NHS care.

The research team have received hundreds of requests from infertile women in recent years and currently has 104 women who meet the basic requirements for potential inclusion on the programme.

To find out more about Uterine Transplantation, please visit our fact sheet by clicking here.

To make a donation please visit UK Womb Transplant donate page or write to info@WombTransplantUK.org or call 0207 730 7077.

Sources and more information

  • UK Womb Transplant Research Team receives go-ahead to begin operations,
    Womb Transplant UK, 29 Sep 2015.
  • First 10 womb transplants approved to be carried out in the UK,
    generalandmedical, 30/09/2015..
  • Womb transplantation approved for 10 British women,
    medicalnewstoday, Wednesday 30 September 2015.

Have your say! Share your views