World's first mum-to-daughter uterine transplants in Sweden

Two Swedish women received new uteruses at the weekend in the world's first mother-to-daughter uterine transplants aimed at helping them have babies, Gothenburg University announced on Tuesday. Uterine transplants are new, with the first successful one conducted in Turkey in 2011. "One of the women had previously had her own uterus removed after undergoing treatment for cervical cancer. The other woman was born without a uterus. Both women are in their 30s," a statement from Gothenburg University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital said. "More than 10 surgeons took part in the operations, which were conducted without any complications. The women who received the uteruses are doing well but are tired after the surgery," said Mats Braennstroem, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the university and the leader of the research team. "The mothers who donated their uteruses are already up and walking and are going to be able to go home within a few days," he added. In a short film clip released with the statement, Braennstroem explained that the young women would have to wait one year before undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with their own frozen embryos. The names of the patients were not revealed. Details of the procedure were to be disclosed at a press conference later Tuesday. The research team, comprising some 20 scientists, doctors and specialists, has been working on the project since 1999. The Daily Star