Uterine Transplantation is a reality but who, how and when?

Uterine Transplantation is a reality but who, how and when?

Uterine Transplantation is a reality but who, how and when? (2527)

Ash Hanafy

Absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI) represents 5% of infertile women and is the only untreatable subgroup of female infertility. It is due to absence of the uterus (congenital or hysterectomy) or the presence of a non-functional uterus. The only two options for a woman with AUFI to become mother today are through a gestational surrogate mother or adoption; both procedures are prohibited in many countries and not without several legal and ethical concerns. Uterus transplantation (UTx) presents a potential future treatment of AUFI. After extensive animal research over the last 15 years, also involving non-human primates, a small number of human UTx cases have recently been performed in Sweden. Here, I summarize our primate UTx experiments that have paved the way for our “nine” human UTx cases, resulting in “five” healthy babies. The estimate number for potential candidates and the ethics around UTx are also addressed.

Authors contributing to this abstract.

Hanafy, A

A/Prof. Ash Hanafy Ash was born in Cairo, and gained his medical degree from Cairo University (MBChB) in 1986. He migrated to Australia in 1991 and completed his O&G training in Adelaide. In addition to his clinical work, he was previously appointed as the clinical sub-Dean for Griffith university medical school, Logan campus and currently holds Associate professor title. Presently, Ash works as a private Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at John Flynn Private Hospital and as a VMO at Tweed Public Hospital. He is a renowned teacher and mentor, and was awarded the Griffith University ‘Excellence in Teaching and Clinical Care’ in 2010, and the Gold Coast Hospital award in 2011. He is the only specialist from Australia involved in Uterus Transplant Research. He is the Chairman of the Uterus transplant and research Centre, and in January 2016 he was appointed as the chief advisory in the International Society for Uterus Transplant (ISUTx), in Sweden. Uterus transplant is a project, which started in 1998 with Professor Mats Brannstrom when they were working together in Adelaide. After extensive research in various animal models, approval was granted by governing authorities in Sweden to perform the procedure in humans. To date the team have performed “nine” transplant operations, which have resulted in five healthy babies. Ash’s dream is to bring the operation to Australia in the very near future.

Uterine Transplantation is a reality but who, how and when? (2527)

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Hanafy, A

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