Research Outcomes Following Uterus Transplantation at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Abstract

Background: Absolute Uterine Factor infertility (AUFI) can be congenital such as Mayer-Rokitansky Küster syndrome (MRKH), or acquired resulting from conditions rendering the uterus non-functional or following a hysterectomy. In 2014 the first successful uterus transplant (UT) was achieved in Sweden. This sparked widespread interest, and many countries have established UT trials. In 2019 Royal Prince Alfred hospital was the first site in Australia to receive ethical approval for a UT protocol. As part of this trial research outcomes will be collected. Aim: • To determine if UT is an effective, safe, and operationally viable option for women with AUFI in order to achieve live birth. • To collect research outcomes which will contribute to an international bio-bank for future research opportunities. Method: Approved donor/recipient pairs will be invited to participate in the research components of the trial. This will involve completing various questionnaires to assess clinical outcomes before and after the procedure, as well as providing additional blood and cervical tissue samples which will be stored for future research projects. Conclusion: UT is a relatively new procedure, with significant scope for basic research opportunities. Due to the infancy of UT it is pivotal that all centers are diligent in collecting research outcomes and contributing to an international data registry to aid in proving the necessity of UT as a clinical treatment for woman with AUFI.