Incredible: A uterus transplant recipient gave birth with her own mother’s womb!
Science is advancing faster than some of us have anticipated, but it’s not all for fun and games. When it comes to reproductive health, science could be the key to helping people have healthier pregnancies.
A case from Sweden may give hope to those who don't have uteri or whose uteri aren't compatible with pregnancy.
As reported by Romper, a mother named Emilie Eriksson gave birth to her son using her mother’s uterus two years ago. The transplant surgery that facilitated this successful pregnancy and birth is still relatively new (and not always effective for patients who undergo it), but this case gives hope to those who have challenges with reproductive health. Plus, two years later, all those involved are healthy — which demonstrates the potential of this transplant surgery for those in need.
Emilie did not have a uterus, but received her mother, Marie's, womb in a trial surgery by Matts Brannstrom -- a doctor at the forefront of uterus transplants.
The procedure was tough on Emilie’s body; she dealt with “episodes of rejection,” as explained by Romper. But once stable, doctors used in-vitro fertilization to insert an embryo into Emilie’s new womb. She was pregnant a few weeks later, and she is now the mother of a healthy 2-year old son, Albin!
Emilie spoke to the Associated Press about the incredible and surreal nature of what she has experienced:
"It's like science fiction. This is something that you read in history books and now in the future when you read about this, it's about me."
Though this procedure could positively affect patients with reproductive health struggles, teaching the procedure to new doctors is very challenging. Doctors who have successfully completed the procedure find it difficult to teach it to other surgeons, especially at hospitals outside of Sweden, where the most successful procedures have taken place.
It may be a while before these procedures are widely accessible for every person who needs them, but the success of the Erikssons’ procedure gives us hope for the future of reproductive health assistance.
