Advancements in uterus transplant: new scenarios and future implications

S. Zaami, A. Di Luca, E. Marinelli

Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. simona.zaami@uniroma1.it

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• Bioethics

Women suffering from Uterine Factor Infertility (UFI) arising from congenital conditions (e.g., Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) or hysterectomy can fulfill their wish to achieve motherhood only by resorting to surrogacy, which is, however, banned in most countries. Medical research has long been looking into uterus transplant (UTx), which may constitute a valuable alternative for such patients. Following decades of animal testing and clinical trials, several successful pregnancies have been carried to term. Yet UTx is still to be considered as an experimental procedure. The report’s authors believe UTx has the potential to become a mainstream surgical practice, but for the time being, several ethical issues need to be weighed in before it does.

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