[Science Report]:Uterus Transplant Operation


This is the VOA SpecialEnglish SCIENCE REPORT.

Doctors in Saudi Arabia have performed the first human uterustransplant operation.

The doctors say the woman who received the uterus had two monthlyfertile periods after the operation. However, the uterus had to beremoved after three months. Doctors say the experiment shows that auterus transplant operation is technically possible. Yet someexperts say it is very risky and question its value.

The idea of uterus transplants was first explored in theNineteen-Fifties. Little progress had been made since then. Manyscientists considered it too difficult because of the many small andcomplex blood vessels that must be connected.

The uterus transplant operation was performed two years ago atthe King Fahad Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Doctors transplanted the uterus into a twenty-six year old Saudiwoman. Doctors had removed her uterus six years earlier because ofuncontrolled bleeding after the birth of her first child. The womanwanted to have another baby. The transplant organ came from aforty-six year old woman. She had a condition that required theremoval of her reproductive organs. However, her uterus was healthy.

The younger woman took powerful drugs both before and after theoperation so her body would not reject the organ. The drugssuppressed her body's natural defenses against disease. She also wasgiven hormone injections to help the transplanted uterus developnormally.

The doctors say the uterus performed normally for ninety-ninedays. Then tests showed that blood flow to the organ had stopped.That forced doctors to remove it.The International Journal ofGynecology and Obstetrics described the experiment. A commentarypublished with the report said the operation should be considered asuccess. Some American experts said the experiment offered hope towomen who want to have a baby and have been unable to do so.

Other experts question the idea of such a transplant operation.Most organ transplant operations are done to save a patient's life.They argue that a uterus is not necessary for a woman's survival.They also note that the anti-rejection drugs that a woman must takehave strong side effects. These might harm a developing fetus.

This VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.

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