Womb transplants planned

Doctors in New York are planning to perform the first uterus transplant in the US.

It is hoped that the procedure will allow women who have had their wombs removed or damaged to bear children.

A transplant has been attempted before in Saudi Arabia from a live donor but it had to be removed after three months following complications.

The team at New York Downtown hospital plan to use wombs from deceased organ donors and believe some complications can be avoided by transplanting larger arteries with the uterus.

A six-month trial was carried out which found that wombs could be obtained from donors.

Women who have inquired about having the procedure are currently being screened by independent specialists.

Lead physician Dr Giuseppe Del Priore told the Boston Globe: “The desire to have a child is a tremendous driving force for many women. We think we could help many women fulfil this very basic desire.”

Commenting on concerns that more research needs to be done before the procedure is carried out on women, he added: “I think we’re ready. There is always more you could do. But knowing what my colleagues in the field have done and what we have done, we think it’s absolutely doable.”