HC da USP Marks Milestone with First Successful Uterus Transplant Among Living Patients in Latin America
The Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine has achieved a historic milestone by performing the first successful uterus transplant among living patients in Latin America, a significant innovation in both the field of organ transplantation and reproductive medicine. The procedure was performed in partnership with a Swedish team from the University of Gothenburg and included the participation of specialists from the hospital, including professors Edmund Baracat and Luiz Augusto Carneiro d’Albuquerque.
The transplant was successfully performed using a uterus from the recipient’s sister, who had donated the organ after having already given birth to two children. This aspect of the procedure was highlighted by Professor Carneiro, who mentioned the Hospital das Clínicas’ long tradition in transplants and the importance of collaboration between teams to perform uterine transplants. In 2017, the hospital had already made history by performing the first uterus transplant from a deceased donor, which resulted in the birth of a healthy baby.
Receiver
Professor Baracat explained that the transplant recipient, who suffers from a condition known as Rokitansky syndrome, underwent a rigorous pre-transplant evaluation. This syndrome is characterized by the absence of a uterus and part of the vagina, but the recipient had normal ovaries. The process included egg collection, in vitro fertilization and freezing of the embryos for future use after the transplant.
“After the uterine transplant, which is a long and time-consuming procedure, as already mentioned, the patient undergoes a period of post-transplant monitoring, during which she receives immunosuppressive medication to prevent rejection, and we perform a gynecological follow-up, where we check, through a biopsy of the cervix, for signs of rejection. Around four to six months after the transplant, we begin planning the transfer of the embryos to the recipient’s uterus. So this is the procedure we perform, it’s a long process that begins a few years in advance, because we can never think about performing a transplant without having good-quality frozen embryos,” explains the professor.
Hope in motherhood
“Uterine transplantation is undoubtedly an option for women who have an absolute uterine factor that leads to infertility, and it is extremely important that we can offer this technique in the near future as an opportunity for women who are unable to get pregnant due to a uterine problem, due to the lack of a uterus. This is even a right of citizenship for women to be able to get pregnant. I believe that Hospital das Clínicas is a pioneer in transplants in general and is also a pioneer in uterus transplants, as we did in 2017 with a deceased donor and now the first successful living donor transplant in Latin America,” concludes Professor Baracat.
Performing the first uterus transplant between living patients in Latin America is a testament to Hospital das Clínicas’ innovation and commitment to women’s health. Professors Baracat and Carneiro expressed their satisfaction in contributing to this cause, emphasizing the importance of continuing to invest in research and practices that improve women’s lives and offer new opportunities for personal and family fulfillment.