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Womb transplants given UK go-ahead Womb transplants given UK go-ahead
(about 3 hours later)
Doctors have been granted approval to carry out the UK's first 10 womb transplants, following the success of the procedure in Sweden.Doctors have been granted approval to carry out the UK's first 10 womb transplants, following the success of the procedure in Sweden.
The go-ahead has been given by the Health Research Authority - as part of a clinical trial - which launches in the spring.The go-ahead has been given by the Health Research Authority - as part of a clinical trial - which launches in the spring.
Around one in 7,000 women are born without a womb, while others lose their womb to cancer.Around one in 7,000 women are born without a womb, while others lose their womb to cancer.
If the trial is successful, the first UK baby could arrive in early 2018.If the trial is successful, the first UK baby could arrive in early 2018.
More than 100 women have already been identified as potential recipients of donor wombs.
Dr Richard Smith, a consultant gynaecologist at the Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London who has been working on the project for 19 years, will lead the transplant team.Dr Richard Smith, a consultant gynaecologist at the Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London who has been working on the project for 19 years, will lead the transplant team.
He said childlessness could be a "disaster" for couples, but the technique would offer hope to those whose only other option is surrogacy or adoption.He said childlessness could be a "disaster" for couples, but the technique would offer hope to those whose only other option is surrogacy or adoption.
How would the procedure work?How would the procedure work?
Dr Smith told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Over the years I have quite a lot of crisis with this project... but when you meet the women who have been born without a uterus, or who have had their uterus removed for one reason or another, this is really heart-rending stuff and that is what has kept us going.Dr Smith told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Over the years I have quite a lot of crisis with this project... but when you meet the women who have been born without a uterus, or who have had their uterus removed for one reason or another, this is really heart-rending stuff and that is what has kept us going.
According to his team at Womb Transplant UK, each procedure costs up to £50,000 to perform, but women will not have to pay for this themselves. According to his team at Womb Transplant UK, each procedure costs around £50,000 to perform, but women will not have to pay for this themselves.
The project has so-far been self-funded and supported by public donations which researchers say will allow them to take on two procedures for now.The project has so-far been self-funded and supported by public donations which researchers say will allow them to take on two procedures for now.
'To carry my own child would be amazing''To carry my own child would be amazing'
Sophie, 30, is one of the women hoping to be selected as one of the first 10 recipients of a womb transplant.Sophie, 30, is one of the women hoping to be selected as one of the first 10 recipients of a womb transplant.
She was 16 when she was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome - a condition which meant her womb did not develop - and told she would not be able to give birth.She was 16 when she was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome - a condition which meant her womb did not develop - and told she would not be able to give birth.
Sophie is now preparing to marry her long-term partner Tilden Lamb next year and says the desire to have children had increased as she has grown older.Sophie is now preparing to marry her long-term partner Tilden Lamb next year and says the desire to have children had increased as she has grown older.
She says: "To be able to carry my own child would be amazing."She says: "To be able to carry my own child would be amazing."
'Specific criteria''Specific criteria'
The women who will be selected for the trial must all meet criteria set out by Womb Transplant UK, which include being 38 or under, having a long-term partner and being a healthy weight. They will also need to have healthy ovaries that are able to produce their own eggs. The women who will be selected for the trial must all meet criteria set out by Womb Transplant UK, which include being 38 or under, having a long-term partner and being a healthy weight.
More than 300 women have approached the team, of whom 104 meet the criteria.More than 300 women have approached the team, of whom 104 meet the criteria.
Researchers plan to transplant wombs that have come from donors who are brain dead but whose hearts are still beating - unlike previous procedures in Sweden where live donors were involved.Researchers plan to transplant wombs that have come from donors who are brain dead but whose hearts are still beating - unlike previous procedures in Sweden where live donors were involved.
Experts in the UK say a different decision has been reached here as the initial operation to remove the womb from the donor is complex and not without risk.Experts in the UK say a different decision has been reached here as the initial operation to remove the womb from the donor is complex and not without risk.
But details of how women could signal their wish to donate their wombs - for example through a donor card - still need to be ironed out.But details of how women could signal their wish to donate their wombs - for example through a donor card - still need to be ironed out.
NHS Blood and Transplant, the UK organ donation organisation, says it will work with Mr Smith and his team, to ensure appropriate protocols are in place for identifying potential donors and approaching their families to gain consent for womb donation. The British Fertility Society welcomed developments in the UK.
Meanwhile the British Fertility Society welcomed developments in the UK.
Chairman, Prof Adam Balen, said: "This opens up the possibility for these women to carry their own pregnancy rather than rely upon IVF with their eggs and surrogacy.Chairman, Prof Adam Balen, said: "This opens up the possibility for these women to carry their own pregnancy rather than rely upon IVF with their eggs and surrogacy.
"The UK team have been working on this for many years and so it is very exciting that they have been given the go ahead to move into clinical practice.""The UK team have been working on this for many years and so it is very exciting that they have been given the go ahead to move into clinical practice."
In October last year a woman in Sweden became the first in the world to give birth to a baby after having a womb transplant, but from a living donor.In October last year a woman in Sweden became the first in the world to give birth to a baby after having a womb transplant, but from a living donor.
Analysis: The difficult birth of womb transplants
By Smitha Mundasad, health reporter
Successful kidney, heart, liver and cornea transplants have been carried out for more than 50 years. But it has taken much longer for womb transplants to get even close to this - they are still very much at an experimental, trial stage.
There have been many issues to consider - including the safety of the patient receiving the transplant, questions over who should, could or would donate a womb and of course the health of the potential new life.
For many years researchers tried to perfect the technique on animals - from mice to monkeys.
The first well-documented human attempt took place in 2000 when doctors in Saudi Arabia transplanted a womb from a living donor to a young woman.
Initially it was hailed as a medical breakthrough but the success was short-lived.
Less than four months later the organ had to be removed when the transplanted tissue began to die as a result of a blood supply failure. The next challenge - a pregnancy - was never attempted.
Womb transplants have also been attempted in Turkey and other countries.
It was in 2014 that a major turning point came - in a medical first, a woman in Sweden gave birth to a baby boy using a transplanted womb.
The 36-year-old, who was born without a uterus, gave birth by Caesarean section to a boy named Vincent after receiving a womb donated by a family friend.
A further three babies have since been born in Sweden using transplanted wombs.
There had been concerns that the use of anti-rejection drugs in pregnancy could harm the foetus.
But researchers argue these medications are likely to be safe at the right dose, building on the success of earlier pregnancies involving anti-rejection drugs for kidney transplants and other conditions.
While technology and skills have clearly progressed, the next question is how many people would need or want the procedure.
Estimates suggest one in 5,000 women are born with a condition called Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser syndrome for example.
People with this condition can have no vagina, cervix or uterus.
In other cases women may have wombs removed after surgery for cancer, for example.
But not all these patients will be eligible. For the first few volunteers there is still likely to be a long and cautious road ahead.