title: Uterus transplantation: From animal models through the first heart beating pregnancy to the first human live birth.
abstract: Absolute uterine factor infertility affects 3-5% of the general population, and unfortunately this condition is untreatable. There are some available options, including surrogacy or adoption, but neither of these suits each and every woman who desires to have her own genetic child. With recent advances in surgery and transplant immunology, uterus transplantation may be a source of hope for these women with uterine infertility. In the last decade, a number of animal species including rats, mice, rabbits, pigs, sheep, and primates have been used as experimental models, and pregnancies were achieved in some of these. Human data consist of 11 subjects yielding positive pregnancy results with no live births in the second trial from Turkey and, more fortunately, live births from the latest trial from Sweden. In the light of all these studies, uterus transplantation has been proven to be a viable option for women with uterine factor infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey nasuhutkudogan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nasuh Utku
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlenen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Inanc
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendilcioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: IVF Center, Private Memorial Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Batu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydinuraz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simsek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014022:Tissue Survival; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014599:Uterus / Q000637:transplantation*
keywords: Absolute uterine factor infertility; deceased donor; infertility; uterus transplantation