A woman in the United Kingdom, born without a womb, has given birth to a healthy baby boy in a medical first for the nation. Grace Bell, in her early thirties, is the first woman in the UK to give birth using a donated womb from a deceased donor.
The transplant was funded by the charity Womb Transplant UK. Gynecological surgeon Richard Smith and transplant surgeon Isabel Quiroga led the initiative. This procedure offers women without a womb the ability to carry and give birth to their own child, an alternative to adoption or surrogacy.
Bell's child was born eight months after the seven-hour surgery. Hormones were administered to stimulate menstruation, followed by IVF for conception. The family of Bell's deceased donor expressed pride, stating their daughter left a legacy of hope and life. They encourage others to consider organ donation.
While this is a UK first for a deceased donor, similar births have occurred globally since 2017. Success rates for deceased donor transplants are comparable to living donors, with approximately 66% live birth rates. Many recipients are affected by Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a developmental disorder impacting the uterus. Bell, who also has MRKH syndrome, hopes more women will have the chance to build a family. Womb Transplant UK plans further transplants as part of an investigational study.