Abstract
Background: Uterine allotransplantation (UTx) is a novel therapy to allow women with uterine factor infertility (UFI) to bear their own children. To date, over 60 UTx have been performed, resulting in 15 live births. Our study investigates the attitudes, perspectives, and interests of women with UFI towards UTx.Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were distributed electronically to women diagnosed with UFI at Johns Hopkins Hospital between the years 2003 and 2018.Results: Thirty-one women with UFI were identified, resulting in 10 completed surveys. The average age was 31.7 ± 6.31 years, and the average age of diagnosis was 20 years (range 14-31); all 10 surveyed women had congenital UFI. Of note, 80% of women agreed that UTx should be an option for women with UFI, and 90% would consider receiving a UTx. The majority of the nine (90%) women who had previously heard of UTx learned about it from the news (5, 50%). When asked to rank the risks related to UTx in order of personal importance, only two women ranked themselves most important; the other woman ranked fetus and donor as more important. All women had health insurance (70% had private insurance), and 90% believed that UTx should be covered by health insurance.Conclusions: We surveyed women with UFI and found that the majority are willing to have UTx, despite the associated risks of the procedure. Taking into consideration the responses for ranking the importance of risks of the procedure, women with UFI should be considered a vulnerable population, requiring special considerations for UTx informed consents.
Highlights
It is estimated that 15% of the female reproductive population is infertile, and around 5-10% of these cases are due to uterine dysfunction [1]
We identified patients who were seen for uterine factor infertility (UFI) at a tertiary academic institute with a reproductive and endocrine infertility service (Johns Hopkins Hospital) from January 1st, 2003 to December 31st, 2018
We hoped to provide a voice for the UFI community, ensuring a direct line of communication between the potential recipients of this procedure and the scientific community implementing this surgery into clinical practice
Summary
It is estimated that 15% of the female reproductive population is infertile, and around 5-10% of these cases are due to uterine dysfunction [1]. Uterine factor infertility (UFI) can be defined as the inability to conceive or maintain pregnancy due to the absence of a uterus, or an anatomically or physiologically dysfunctional uterus. Human uterine allotransplantation (UTx) has emerged as a potential therapy to allow women with UFI to bear their own children. UTx involves the transplantation of a uterus from a cadaveric or living donor to the recipient. The recipient undergoes cycles of in vitro fertilization, and viable embryos are implanted following successful transplantation of the uterus. During this time, the recipient must be maintained on immunosuppression. Uterine allotransplantation (UTx) is a novel therapy to allow women with uterine factor infertility (UFI) to bear their own children. Our study investigates the attitudes, perspectives, and interests of women with UFI towards UTx
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