Connecting and changing lives: The Uterus Transplant Program

When Liza Johannesson, MD, PhD, a gynecological surgeon on the medical staff of Baylor University Medical Center and medical director of its Uterus Transplant program, came to the United States and started a uterus transplant clinical trial in 2016, she expected donated uteruses to come from an equal mix of living and deceased donors. But what she found was an overwhelming number of women from across the country willing to donate to this emerging transplant procedure.

Matching uterus donors with patients

“There was such an influx of volunteers—young, healthy donors—providing us a ready-made pool to draw from,” said Dr. Johannesson. The group of donors consists of volunteers in 41 U.S. states. As a result, the program does not require its patients to provide their own donor.

Instead, it oversees a confidential matching program that links a donor to a patient by a simple blood test, ensuring the best outcome for each person. The pool also means the program has primarily used uteruses from living donors.

“A living donor is ideal because the team can evaluate the health of the donor’s uterus and vessels, collect a full medical history, and ensure the donor and patient are each in perfect health prior to donation and transplant,” Dr. Johannesson said.

The Uterus Transplant program at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, is the largest in the world, and is now performing one transplant per month, on average. This program provides an additional option for women with uterine factor infertility to have a baby—in addition to surrogacy and adoption.

It was also the first program in the world to offer uterus transplant outside of a clinical trial, which was achieved in 2021. A woman born without a uterus, women who lost their uterus at a young age or someone who has a nonfunctioning uterus, are all potential candidates for uterus transplant in the program.

While the Uterus Transplant program does not require patients to provide their own donor, Johannesson says the team, which is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of specialists in transplant, gynecology, obstetrics and maternal/fetal medicine, gives people the option of finding (or “directing”) their own if they wish to.

A life-changing gift from a friend

Such was the case with Chelsea Thatcher. Chelsea was born without a uterus due to a condition known as Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome and was one of the 10 people in the 2016 trial. In 2018, during the second phase of the trial, Chelsea’s friend Brooke Steed donated her uterus to Chelsea.

“It was truly one of the most selfless gifts I’ve been given,” Chelsea said. After two miscarriages, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Matilda.

To date, it’s the only directed donor Dr. Johannesson’s team has used.

“It’s really amazing how science has the ability to completely change these women’s lives for the better,” said Johannesson.

To learn more about the Uterus Transplant program at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, click here.