Womb Transplant is Far too New to be Only Two Years Away November 2
While you may have read that recent research could make it possible to transplant a human womb in as little as two years researchers say that this is an estimate that’s far off the mark. An overly optimistic assertion the news became widespread recently and indicated new hope for women who had difficulty in conceiving due to damage to, removal or the lack of a uterus. The reality is that such research has only begun and despite recent success with testing and research on rabbits, human subjects aren’t likely to be tested for years yet. Even if research did get as far as humans there’s no guarantee that it would become a procedure that would be given medical merit either due to its potential for failure and the risk of it being labeled a “cosmetic” procedure.
What many are unaware of is that rather than being a simple transplant of the uterus alone this research in rabbits also includes the transplant of major blood vessels and even an aorta. It was also a small research group that involved 5 rabbits of which 2 only lived for 9-10 months after the procedure. It’s also worth noting that while their bodies maintained blood flow to the uterus they never conceived due to blockage in the fallopian tubes. The damage could be caused by a cut that was made to the fallopian tubes that the researchers say they would not do un humans however. While the study does have merit and could show promise toward eventually helping women with fertility issues it shouldn’t be hailed just yet.
Tags: fertility, research, stody, testing, transplant, womb