The journey from infertility to uterus transplantation: A mixed-methods
study of the perspectives of participants in the Dallas Uterus
Transplant Study (DUETS)
Abstract
Objective: To study the impact of absolute uterine factor infertility
(AUFI) and uterus transplantation (UTx) on women, and UTx recipients’
perceptions of Utx and reproductive autonomy Design: Convergent
mixed-methods study. Setting: UTx program in a large academic medical
centre in the United States. Population/Sample: 20 Utx recipients
Methods: A medical chart review was conducted to collect patient
demographic information, and clinical outcomes. Semi-structured
interviews collected information regarding participants’ experience.
Main Outcome Measure(s): The outcomes of interest were participants’
experience of infertility, experience with UTx, and general perceptions
of UTx. Results: 7 participants were pregnant (one with a second child),
6 had experienced early graft failure and removal, 5 had delivered a
healthy baby, and 4 had a viable graft and were awaiting embryo
transfer. The primary themes identified were: the negative impact of
AUFI diagnosis on psychological wellbeing, relationships, and female
identity; the positive impact of UTx on healing the emotional scars of
AUFI, female identity, and value of research trial participation; and
the perception of UTx as an expansion of reproductive autonomy. All
participants reported Utx was worthwhile, regardless of individual
outcome. On bivariate analysis, disease aetiology, having a child after
uterus transplantation, experiencing graft failure and current pregnancy
were not significantly associated with the impact of AUFI or of UTx on
participants’ identities. Conclusion: AUFI has a negative impact on
women from a young age, affects multiple relationships, and challenges
female identity. UTx helps reverse this impact, transforming women’s
life narrative of infertility and enhancing female identity.