Uterine Transplant in Chennai

Uterine transplant in Chennai or any other part of the world is the beacon of hope for many couples struggling with infertility. It can be the stepping stone for the path leading to parenthood. In this article, we will explore this revolutionary medical procedure, from uncovering pre-transplant procedures to risks and complications connected with uterine transplantation. 

Infertility can be a heartbreaking and mentally traumatic journey for many women, especially when the reason behind this is the absence of a uterus by birth or damage to the uterus due to various issues. However, recent advancements in medical science, like uterine transplants, have reignited hope and opened doors of parenthood for such women.

Although a revolutionary procedure, performing the surgery is a complex process which needs precise care and the finest technique from a trusted healthcare institution like Gleneagles Hospital. 

A leading hospital in India due to its pioneering work in various fields with modern and state-of-the-art technology. 

Uterine transplant refers to a clinical procedure where the surgical insertion of a healthy donor uterus on a woman with absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI). The uterine transplant eligibility is either due to the presence of a dysfunctional uterus or the complete absence of the uterus. The purpose of a uterine transplant is to allow the recipient to conceive and give birth to her biological child. The transplant may be followed by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to achieve pregnancy, making it a sophisticated but groundbreaking method of treating infertility due to uterine abnormalities. The transplanted uterus may be surgically removed after successful pregnancy and childbirth to avoid lifelong use of immunosuppressors.

Uterine transplant in Chennai and the world is done majorly with two approaches, and each approach is chosen based on various factors such as the availability of a suitable donor, the health condition of the recipient and the intended outcomes. Below, we elaborated on these two types of uterine transplantation: 

• Living Donor Uterine Transplant: This is the type of uterus transplant in which the uterus is donated by a living donor, typically a close friend or relative, whoever is suitable the most. The uterus of the donor is removed and then transplanted into the recipient. The type is more advantageous due to the lower risk of organ rejection since the tissues are of a closer match.
• Deceased Donor Uterine Transplant: This uterine transplantation involves receiving the uterus from a diseased donor sourced from an organ transplant network or, if in India, from a government registry. This type of uterine transplant can become more challenging as the received uterus can be older or have gone through various changes throughout the deceased person’s life. 

Although there are other infertility treatments available, uterine transplant stands out as the treatment which gives a chance to women to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Here are the reasons why uterine transplantation is emerging as a growing choice for carrying a successful pregnancy: 

• Congenital Absence of Uterus: Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a congenital condition which results in the absence of the uterus from birth, which in turn results in the inability to conceive.
• Uterine Damage: Conditions such as fibroids, cancer, or surgical removal of the uterus, like in Hysterectomy, are also major reasons to go for this modern and advanced solution.
• Uterine Dysfunction: In conditions where women have a uterus but still are unable to bear pregnancy, uterine transplant is light for such women.
• Biological Motherhood: In comparison to other treatments for infertility, such as IVF using donated eggs or surrogacy, uterine transplant enables a woman to become pregnant and give birth to her own biological child. This is especially attractive to women who can have permanent uterine factor infertility and wish to go through the entire range of pregnancy, from conception to giving birth.

For complex procedures like uterine transplants, preparation is crucial to ensure the success of the transplantation. Before uterine transplant surgery, patients will undergo extensive screenings to determine whether they are fit for the surgery or not. These preparatory measures involve:

• Medical History Review: It is the first and foremost important step in preparation for uterine transplant surgery. This step will include a thorough analysis of a comprehensive history of the patient's fertility, health illness, and past treatments are reviewed.
• Donor Matching: Finding a suitable uterine transplant donor, either living or deceased, is a critical component of the preparation process. While selecting a donor for the uterus it is made sure that the organ is immunologically compatible with the recipient to reduce the risk of rejection.
• Immunosuppressive Treatment: Immunosuppressive drugs are an important component of uterine transplant throughout the surgery, not only after the surgery but also before the surgery to avert organ rejection, patients are required to be administered immunosuppressive medicines before as well as post-surgery.
• Blood Tests and Imaging: Blood tests aid in determining organ function, while imaging studies (e.g., ultrasound or MRI) assist physicians in assessing the health of the uterus and adjacent organs.

Generally, Uterine Transplant surgery is followed by IVF or in vitro fertilisation for a successful pregnancy with highly specialised steps for a successful surgery, which include: 

• Cryopreservation of Eggs or Embryos: This procedure involves the removal of eggs from the recipient's ovaries and freezing them to be used subsequently after the successful uterine transplantation surgery.
• Anaesthesia: After the donor uterus is surgically removed and ready for implantation, the patient will be placed under general anaesthesia.
• Abdominal Incision: A big abdominal incision is done to reach the pelvic area where the uterus will be implanted.
  Implantation: After the incision, the donor's uterus is implanted into the pelvis of the recipient.
• Connection to Blood Vessel: One of the most important procedures of the operation is connecting the donor uterus to the recipient's vascular supply. This process is instrumental in determining the long-term success of the transplant.
• Ligament and Tissue Attachment: The second step is attaching the uterus to the pelvic ligaments, which will serve to stabilise the organ in position. The cervix is also reattached to the recipient's vaginal canal to preserve its structure and function.

Uterine transplant recovery is a slow and gradual process that needs to be observed carefully to avoid any complications, such as infection and organ rejection. The recovery procedure includes post-transplant monitoring, regular follow-ups and immunosuppressant drugs. After recovery, the recipient can go for IVF to conceive a pregnancy. The duration for the implanted graft can be 5 years or two pregnancies whichever is earlier. In some cases, the graft is removed only after one pregnancy due to complications.

Being a complex surgery, uterine transplant comes with its own complications and risks after the surgery. Here are some of the most common uterine transplant complications connected with this procedure: 

• Rejection: The most common issue with a solid organ transplant is rejection from the immune system, leading to failure of surgery.
• Infection: To avoid rejection from the immune system, some drugs known as immunosuppressors are given, but sometimes, these medications lead to infections, particularly at the surgical site.
• Blood Clots: Blood clots are the most common risk related to any surgical procedure which involves blood vessels.
• Pregnancy Complications: Although the procedure is done to achieve pregnancy, still pregnancy complications are quite common, such as premature delivery or miscarriage.
• Other Health Conditions: In some cases, the recipient becomes more prone to other health issues, such as kidney injury or preeclampsia during the pregnancy. 

The Cost of a Uterine Transplant can vary significantly based on the hospital, protocols, geographical locations, and post-transplant evaluation, including additional procedures like IUI, ICSI, etc. Uterine transplantation is a complex procedure, the reason for the high cost of the procedure, which needs years of expertise and advanced and finest tools.

In India, uterine transplant success rates are moderately high, and the procedure has shown promising results in successful pregnancies if the outcome of the surgery is positive. The success rate also depends upon the recipient's age, overall health, and the skill of the surgical team.

Uterus transplantation Surgery is one of the most complex surgeries of solid organ transplant, which needs the finest care and treatment, that is the expertise of Gleneagles Hospitals. Here are the reasons why the hospital is the most trusted choice among people for the transplant: 

• Expert care and advanced treatment.
• State-of-the-art and modern infrastructure with the usage of robot-assisted technology.
• Individualised support and plans well suited for every patient’s need.
• Combined IVF and Uterine transplant procedure for your convenience.