World's largest uterus transplant program now offers more women the opportunity to achieve a pregnancy
Becoming a mother is a monumental moment. At Baylor Scott & White Health, we want all mothers to cherish the unique moments of their pregnancy and childbirth.
Uterus transplant recipient eligibility
Any woman with uterine factor infertility due to lack of the uterus (born without a uterus or lost the uterus in young age for a benign or malignant condition) or presence of a nonfunctioning uterus, is a potential candidate for uterus transplant.
- Of childbearing age (18-45 years old)
- Cancer-free for five years
- Healthy weight
- Negative for HIV, hepatitis B and C
- Non-smoker
To start the process for determining eligibility, fill out the questionnaire:
Uterus transplant donor eligibility
- Ages 30-50 years old
- Healthy weight
- Cancer-free for five years
- Negative for HIV and hepatitis
- No history of hypertension or diabetes
Matching the recipient to a donor is done by blood type. A uterus can be donated from either a living or deceased donor.
A living uterus donor who has completed her own childbearing can give her uterus for the purpose of transplantation to a female recipient. A living donor can either be non-directed, unknown to the recipient, or directed, known to the recipient.
A deceased uterus donor is a female who is willing to donate her uterus after death.
A uterus transplant or donation is not for everyone, and there is an extensive screening process prior to acceptance to the program.
Uterus transplant process
- Complete the online questionnaire. This initial screening is used to determine if you are a potential candidate for the procedure.
- Once approved for evaluation, a financial deposit is required.
- Evaluation happens at the Baylor University Medical Center transplant clinic in Dallas, TX. The series of appointments typically take two days.
- If you do not already have embryos, you will see a fertility doctor who will retrieve eggs and sperm to create embryos. This can be done at a clinic of your choice in Dallas.
- After in vitro fertilization (IVF), you will be matched with either a living or deceased donor.
- You then will have the uterus transplant surgery. Recovery takes about three months.
After uterus transplant surgery in Dallas, patients are seen in clinic every two to four weeks for gynecological exams, labs to monitor your health and immunosuppressive therapy, and biopsies.
You may return to work after surgery restrictions are lifted. However, you will have many appointments throughout the process of uterus transplant and pregnancy that will require you to miss work.
Recipients: What to expect
Pregnancy
After you recover from the transplant surgery, embryo transfer is done three to six months after the transplant surgery, which hopefully results in a successful pregnancy.
At this time, we follow the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s recommendation to do single embryo transfer to decrease the risks associated with twins.
Due to the organ transplant and the immunosuppressive medications you must take, it is considered a high-risk pregnancy. You will be followed by a maternal fetal medicine doctor and a high-risk obstetrician to monitor the health of you and the baby.
Delivery of your baby will be by caesarean section. With the guidance of your physician team, the transplanted uterus is either removed after delivery of the first child or retained to try for a second pregnancy.
Donors: What to expect
Uterus donation process
The potential uterus donor will have a thorough medical and psychosocial evaluation to determine if she is healthy and if there are any risks related to the surgery, anesthesia and/or donation that may impact the donor’s health in the future.
Uterus donation is a scheduled surgery. The uterus is removed from the donor in a procedure called a hysterectomy. In addition to removing the uterus, the surgeon also removes the vessels that supply blood to the uterus, the fallopian tubes, cervix and vaginal cuff. On average, the surgery lasts about six hours. The most common ways to perform this hysterectomy are:
- Robotic hysterectomy—A minimally invasive procedure to remove the uterus laparoscopically through five smaller incisions
- Open hysterectomy—An open surgery to remove the uterus through an incision that is vertical from belly button to pubic hairline
During surgery, the donor is under general anesthesia. While under anesthesia, a nerve block is used to reduce incisional pain. Oral pain medication is also prescribed.
As with any surgery, the risks include adverse reaction to anesthesia, bleeding, blood clots and infection. Your surgeon will discuss risks of surgery with you.
Financial
Uterus transplantation is not covered by insurance, but several components of the process may be covered. For example, your insurance may cover some costs related to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and/or delivery of the baby.
Uterus transplant in Dallas is offered as a private pay service. The special package pricing amount is based on an estimate of the hospital charges and certain physician charges for uterus transplant-related services. A transplant team financial representative will discuss the requirements with you.
The cost of the uterus transplant is paid in multiple payments:
- An initial payment is due prior to starting the uterus transplant evaluation
- A second payment is due in full within six months of medical approval for transplant and prior to transplant surgery
- A third payment is required if the recipient is approved for a second pregnancy and delivery
For women with absolute uterine factor infertility, the uterus transplant program at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health offers this life-changing moment by providing a solution to infertility due to the absence of a uterus
Baylor University Medical Center is the first transplant program in the world to offer uterus transplants outside of a clinical trial.
Our uterus transplant program in Dallas is the only program in the United States to deliver babies using uteri from both living and deceased donors and the first uterus transplant program in the nation to successfully deliver two babies from one transplanted uterus.
Kristin Posey Wallis, BSN, RNC
Nurse Coordinator
Heather Pirtle, BSN, RNC
Nurse Coordinator
Giuliano Testa, MD
Transplant Surgery
Chairman of Baylor Scott & White Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute, Chief of Abdominal Transplant
Meet the uterus transplant team
Our Dallas uterus transplant program’s success is attributed to a multidisciplinary team of specialists in transplant, gynecology, obstetrics and maternal/fetal medicine who have remained committed to advancing the science of uterus transplantation for the benefit of the broader medical community and women with uterine factor infertility.
These women received uterus transplants
Tamron Hall Show | October 17, 2019
Peyton Meave and Kayla Edwards are the first American transplant recipients. Edwards and Meave share their journey to motherhood with Tamron Hall. Plus, Dr. Liza Johannesson discusses the medical advancements that are making the transplants possible.
Women open up about their successful uterus transplants
Today Show | October 1, 2019
TODAY’s Sheinelle Jones sits down with Peyton Meave and Kayla Edwards, two mothers who didn’t believe carrying a baby was in the cards for them until they took part in a clinical trial at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. They open up about the uterus transplants they received and how their procedures allowed them to have babies on their own.
Baylor University Medical Center announces first baby born in U.S. from transplanted uterus
Scrubbing In | December 1, 2017
Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, today announced that a baby has been born to a mother who received a uterus transplant as part of a landmark clinical trial conducted over the past year and a half.
Publications and research
Baylor University Medical Center is also a leader in uterus transplant research.