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The Pregnancy Experiences of Uterus Transplant Recipients

A. E. Wall, L. Johannesson, G. Testa, A. Warren

Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D389

Keywords: Ethics, Outcome, Pregnancy, Psychosocial

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Late Breaking

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

 Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the pregnancy experiences of uterus transplant recipients through semi-structured interviews so as to develop a better understating of uterus transplantation as compared to the alternatives of surrogacy or adoption, neither of which allows a woman with uterine factor infertility to experience pregnancy.

*Methods: We interviewed the only two uterus transplant recipients in the United States who have had successful live births. These semi-structured interviews were conducted in person at the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas on December 7th, 2018.

*Results: The women reported that they had physical signs and symptoms of pregnancy, emotional changes, nesting behavior, bonding with the fetus, and positive external acknowledgment of their pregnancies. Both women reported that their pregnancies were similar to those of family and friends, and both would choose to have a uterus transplant again, over surrogacy or adoption.

*Conclusions: This study documents the first-ever pregnancy experiences of uterus transplant recipients in the US. We found that these women experience pregnancy in a very similar way to other women and that they found incredible value in carrying their own children, bonding with their children during the pregnancy, giving birth, and being able to breast feed. This study demonstrates that uterus transplantation has the potential to provide a unique option for women with uterine factor infertility to have children that has benefits beyond those of surrogacy and adoption.

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To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Wall AE, Johannesson L, Testa G, Warren A. The Pregnancy Experiences of Uterus Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-pregnancy-experiences-of-uterus-transplant-recipients/. Accessed May 8, 2025.

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