Reproductive, obstetric, and long-term health outcome after uterus transplantation: results of the first clinical trial

Abstract

To evaluate reproductive, obstetric, and long-term health of the first completed study of uterus transplantation (UTx). Prospective. University hospital. Nine live donor UTx procedures were conducted and seven were successful. Donors, recipients, and children born were observed. Invitro fertilization was performed with embryo transfer (ET) of day 2 or day 5 embryos in natural cycles. Pregnancies and growth trajectory of the children born were observed. Health-related quality of life, psychosocial outcome, and medical health of donors and recipients were evaluated by questionnaires. The results of invitro fertilization, pregnancies, growth of children, and long-term health of patients were reported. Six women delivered nine infants, with three women giving birth twice (cumulative birth rates of 86% and 67% in surgically successful and performed transplants, respectively). The overall clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) per ET were 32.6% and 19.6%, respectively. For day 2 embryos, the CPR and LBR per ET were 12.5% and 8.6%, respectively. For day 5 embryos, the CPR and LBR per ET were 81.8% and 45.4%, respectively. Fetal growth and blood flow were normal in all pregnancies. Time of delivery (median in full pregnancy weeks + days [ranges]) by cesarean section and weight deviations was 35 + 3 (31 + 6 to 38 + 0) and -1% (-13% to 23%), respectively. Three women developed preeclampsia and four neonates acquired respiratory distress syndrome. All children were healthy and followed a normal growth trajectory. Measures of long-term health in both donors and recipients were noted to be favorable. When UTx resulted in a birth, scores for anxiety, depression, and relationship satisfaction were reassuring for both the donors and recipients. The results of this first complete UTx trial show that this is an effective infertility treatment, resulting in births of healthy children and associated with only minor psychological and medical long-term effects for donors and recipients. NCT02987023.