Uterus transplant success rates show high
A national review of 60 uterus transplants performed since 2016 finds 70% of recipients achieved a live birth or ongoing pregnancy, with improving safety
Uterus transplant success rates for live births in the United States from 2016 to 2025 are high, according to a new national analysis. The review of 60 transplants shows 70 percent of recipients achieved at least one live birth or were still pregnant beyond 20 weeks when the study closed.
Across the study period, 48 babies were born to uterus transplant recipients in the United States. The research was led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Among women who received those organs, more than 82% ultimately achieved at least one live birth or were still pregnant at 20 weeks or later when the study closed. Nine recipients delivered two children.
Graft survival and safety have improved significantly
Safety outcomes have strengthened over time. 51 of the 60 transplanted uteruses survived beyond the critical first 30 days after surgery. Since 2020, only one surgical graft failure occurred among 31 transplants performed nationwide. No recipient or living donor experienced a life-threatening complication or death related to the procedure.
Donor risks decline and infant outcomes are reassuring
Living donor complications dropped sharply over time. The data shows a marked improvement.
| Period | Major Complication Rate |
|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | 33 percent |
| 2024-2025 | 8 percent |
While many babies were born preterm, all showed normal development through age three. More than half of babies, 58 percent, were born prematurely. Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and hypertension were relatively common. All children demonstrated normal development at hospital discharge and at 6 months of age. Among 29 children evaluated at age 3, researchers observed normal growth and no cases of failure to thrive. Two children had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. No other developmental disorders were identified among the children evaluated.
Who benefits and what limits access
Most recipients have MRKH syndrome or prior hysterectomy, but the procedure remains rare, expensive, and largely uncovered by insurance. Absolute uterine factor infertility affects roughly 3 percent of women. Most transplant recipients had Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Others had undergone hysterectomy or had a uterus unable to support pregnancy.
Uterus transplantation is available at only a handful of centers nationwide, including Penn. It is generally not covered by insurance. The authors noted that access remains one of the field's greatest challenges.
Penn’s program leads national experience with repeat pregnancies
Penn delivered the first U.S. Birth from a transplant in 2019 and has since reported eight babies from seven transplants. Penn's first birth from a uterus transplant happened in November 2019 with the arrival of baby Benjamin Gobrecht. Since then, Penn has had eight babies born from seven transplants. Three of those recipients who delivered a healthy baby are trying to get pregnant again.
Kathleen E. O'Neill, MD, MSTR, the senior study author and director of the Penn Uterus Transplant Program, led the research. Both recipients and babies will continue to be followed.
