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First 10 UK womb transplants approved First 10 UK womb transplants approved
(about 1 hour 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.
Ethical approval has been granted for the transplants - as part of a clinical trial - and will launch in spring.Ethical approval has been granted for the transplants - as part of a clinical trial - and will launch in spring.
Around one in 5,000 women are born without a womb, while others lose their womb to cancer.Around one in 5,000 women are born without a womb, while others lose their womb to cancer.
If the trial is successful, the first UK baby born from a womb transplant could arrive in late 2017 or 2018.If the trial is successful, the first UK baby born from a womb transplant could arrive in late 2017 or 2018.
More than 100 women have already been identified as potential recipients of donor wombs.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?
The 55-year-old said: "I've met many of the women who want this and it's really important for them and their partners. Dr Smith told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme the wombs would come from "heart beating" but "brain dead" donors.
"There is no doubting that, for many couples, childlessness is a disaster. "There is an innate desire in many women to carry their own baby. This procedure has the potential to satisfy that innate desire.
"Infertility is a difficult thing to treat for these women. Surrogacy is an option but it does not answer the deep desire that women have to carry their own baby." "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.
"There is no doubting that, for many couples, childlessness is a disaster."
'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.
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.
She says: "To be able to carry my own child would be amazing."
The women who will be selected for the trial must all meet criteria, which include being 38 or under, having a long-term partner and being a healthy weight.The women who will be selected for the trial must all meet criteria, which include being 38 or under, having a long-term partner and being a healthy weight.
More than 300 women have approached the Womb Transplant UK team, of whom 104 meet the criteria.More than 300 women have approached the Womb Transplant UK team, of whom 104 meet the criteria.
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. 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.
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.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 from living donors.
Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
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