UAB ’ S FIRST UTERUS TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT DELIVERS HEALTHY BABY
NEWS
UAB ’ S FIRST UTERUS TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT DELIVERS HEALTHY BABY
Mallory was born without a uterus , a condition called Mayer-Rokitansky- Küster-Hauser syndrome . But in May 2023 , she defied the odds and experienced what was once thought to be medically impossible when she gave birth to a son at UAB Hospital through the gift of uterus transplantation .
On that day , both Mallory and her son made history at UAB and in the field of uterus transplantation . Mallory became the first patient to give birth via a uterus transplant outside of a clinical trial , and her son was the first baby born out of the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute ( CTI ) and UAB Medicine uterus transplant program .
“ The birth of UAB ’ s first uterus transplant program baby is an incredible milestone , not just for the patient and the field but also for our multidisciplinary team here at UAB , as this marks our ability as an institution to offer another option for patients who are experiencing uterine factor infertility ,” said Paige Porrett , M . D ., Ph . D ., the inaugural director for Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation in the UAB CTI and an associate professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Surgery . “ At UAB , we ’ re committed to bringing this emerging therapy forward to patients in need , making it as accessible , safe , and as simple as possible for women who have never had an option to bear their own biological child .”
One of only four uterus transplant programs in the United States and the first in the world to open outside of a clinical research trial , the UAB CTI ’ s uterus transplant program and its success offer women with uterine factor infertility something they ’ ve seldom had as it relates to their journey to biologically carry a child – hope .
“ Uterus transplant is another way that UAB is making a contribution here for patients who have longed for more options to building a family ,” Dr . Porrett explained . “ This critical program has value on so many levels . Beyond the excitement generated by this birth , it ’ s important to realize how merely the existence of the program – independent of its outcomes
– provides hope to patients in need . Uterus transplantation is the only medical treatment for uterine factor infertility , and despite the safety and efficacy of this treatment , it is largely inaccessible to patients around the world . UAB is committed to changing that reality , and this birth signifies that we are on our way .”
Uterine factor infertility Uterine factor infertility may affect as many as 5 % of reproductive-age women worldwide and previously was an irreversible form of female infertility . Women with this condition cannot carry a pregnancy to term , either because they were born without a uterus or had it surgically removed during a hysterectomy .
With only about 100 uterus transplants performed worldwide to date , women with uterine factor infertility previously had to identify other ways to start or expand their families , whether through adoption or surrogacy . Now that uterus transplantation is proven to be a viable option for pregnancy and childbirth at UAB , women and couples have another option they can explore to treat their specific infertility experience .
In Mallory ’ s specific journey to motherhood , her sister successfully served as a gestational surrogate and carried her and husband Nick ’ s first child , a daughter . Recognizing that asking her to undergo another pregnancy would risk her sister ’ s own health , Mallory soon became aware of uterus transplantation and started the candidacy process , knowing that fulfilling a dream of pregnancy was potentially attainable .
“ There are all different ways to grow your family if you have uterine factor infertility , but this is what I feel like I knew that I was supposed to do ,” Mallory said . “ I will forever advocate for UAB and uterus transplantation in general , as it gave me the opportunity to be pregnant and finally become a family of four .”
Upon receiving her uterus transplant from a deceased donor through Legacy of Hope – Alabama ’ s organ procurement organization – Mallory , Nick , and their daughter relocated to Birmingham , which is a necessary part of enrolling in UAB ’ s uterus transplant program due to the extensive level of medical oversight and clinical care required . From the organ transplantation to implantation of their embryo and the eventual birth of
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