Uterus transplants help women achieve successful pregnancies, analysis shows

A decade of uterus transplants in the United States has yielded dozens of successful births and improving surgical outcomes, according to a national review led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study found that 70% of transplant recipients achieved at least one live birth or remained pregnant beyond 20 weeks when the study concluded, showing that the procedure has transitioned from an experimental treatment to a replicable clinical therapy for women born without a uterus or with non-functioning uteruses.

The analysis, published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, summarizes outcomes from 60 uterus transplants performed between 2016 and 2025 at four U.S. centers, covering surgical, reproductive, neonatal, and early childhood developmental outcomes. Senior author Kathleen E. O'Neill, MD, MSTR, emphasized the importance of uterus transplantation as a viable path to parenthood alongside adoption and gestational surrogacy.

Penn's first uterus transplant birth occurred in November 2019, with eight babies born from seven transplants, mostly from living donors. Graft survival rates exceeded 80%, and surgical complications decreased over time. However, 58% of transplanted babies were born prematurely, highlighting ongoing pregnancy risks. Access to uterus transplantation remains limited, as it is available at only a few centers and not covered by insurance, making it inaccessible for many eligible patients.

The researchers hope this analysis will demonstrate the effectiveness of uterus transplantation and encourage wider insurance coverage to provide more women with the opportunity to become mothers.