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First baby born to ovary-transplant mother

Marie Claire Lifestyle

The future for ovary transplants looks rosy with the world's first ovary-transplant baby born in the early hours of this morning in London.

The baby was born via caesarean section to a 38-year-old woman, who had her identical twin sister's full ovary transplanted into her body in pioneering surgery just under two years ago.

Although eight other babies have been born after transplants of ovary tissue, this is the first time a full ovary transplant has resulted in a successful pregnancy and birth.

The unnamed woman suffered an early menopause at just 15 years of age, and has been infertile ever since. It wasn't until her twin sister, who already has two children, volunteered one of her own ovaries up for transplantation that the idea of becoming pregnant herself was even possible.

'To our knowledge, this is the first successful human intact whole ovary transplant leading to healthy pregnancy,' Dr Sherman Silber, who carried out the procedure in St Louis, Missouri, told reporters.

'This sets the stage for a new chapter in reproductive organ transplantation. In addition to whole ovary transplantation it is possible now to consider fallopian tube transplant for women with irreparable tubal disease.'

The success of this transplant will offer hope to women whose fertility is affected by chemotherapy. In such an instance, an ovary could be removed before treatment, frozen, then re-transplanted once treatment was finished.

Tabloid newspapers today paint a picture of career women following suit in an effort to delay motherhood, although as medical bloggers this morning point out, it's a risky strategy and while it might make good headlines, seems an unlikely outcome – especially when freezing one's eggs is a far less invasive, not to mention tried and tested, option.

However, Dr Silber has commented: ‘Women can always have egg donation but this is so much nicer and more convenient if it’s safe. A young ovary can be transplanted back at any time and it will extend fertility and delay the menopause. You could even wait until you were 47.

‘I don’t see any problem with it at all, I don’t see a dilemma.

‘The critical pay-off is the ability to remove the ovary and put it back again after storing it for ten to 20 years.’

Wednesday 12 November 2008


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