Motivations for uterus transplantation in women with absolute uterine factor infertility: A systematic review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION

Uterine transplantation is indicated for women with absolute uterine factor infertility, which is usually associated with congenital causes (the most common being Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) or acquired via hysterectomy. For these women, uterus transplantation is the only possibility for them to be able to conceive and have a biological child. The aim of this study was to understand the motivations that lead women with absolute uterine factor infertility to wish to undergo a uterus transplant.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed in the following databases: Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane (CENTRAL), Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS.

RESULTS

439 articles were identified, and nine studies were finally selected. Uterine transplantation was the preferred choice over adoption and surrogacy in most studies (ranging from 45 % to 97.5 %). The main motivations for this type of transplant include the desire to conceive a pregnancy, the desire to have a genetic child, the desire to have control over pregnancy, the physiological repair of the body, the restoration of femininity, and the desire to contribute to science.

CONCLUSION

The motivations for uterus transplantation go far beyond the desire to get pregnant and include personal and unique motivations.