A reader writes, “The Times reported last week that surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic expect to become the first in the United States to transplant a uterus
into a woman who lacks one, so that she can become pregnant and give
birth. Is there any reason doctors could not implant a uterus in a man,
so that he could become pregnant?”
Science writer Denise Grady responds:
Dr.
Rebecca Flyckt, an obstetrician-gynecologist and expert in reproductive
endocrinology, who is a member of the team that plans to perform a
uterus transplant at the Cleveland Clinic, gave us an answer:
“Although
theoretically this would be possible, it would be a huge surgical and
endocrinologic undertaking and involve not just the creation of a vagina
but also surgical reconstruction of the whole pelvis by someone skilled
in transgender surgery. After this procedure and the grafting of a
donor uterus, a complex hormone regimen would be required to support a
pregnancy prior to and after embryo transfer (although this could be
done, as we provide similar hormone regimens to menopausal women to
support a pregnancy). The interesting thing is that these embryos would
be created using the patient’s sperm (rather than eggs as in our
protocol) and a partner or donor’s eggs. This sperm would have had to be
frozen prior to their transgender surgery, which people are doing more
routinely now.
I
did anticipate that there would be interest in this application of
uterine transplant from the Trans community; however, our protocol is
limited at this time to women without a functioning uterus.”
Ask The Times, a regular Times Insider feature, draws on Times staffers’ expertise to answer
questions about current events, life at the paper, science, sports,
culture and whatever else is making headlines. Send your questions to timesinsider@nytimes.com.
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