Historic First: Baby Born from Womb Transplant in Britain
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Synopsis
In a historic first for Britain, a woman has successfully given birth following a womb transplant. This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone in reproductive medicine, highlighting the potential of advanced medical procedures to help women who are unable to conceive.
Key Takeaways
- Grace Davidson is the first woman in Britain to give birth after a womb transplant.
- The donor, Amy, is Grace's sister, who donated her womb.
- The transplant procedure was conducted at the Oxford Transplant Centre.
- Grace underwent IVF treatment prior to giving birth.
- This success represents an advancement in reproductive medicine.
London, April 8 (NationPress) In a groundbreaking achievement for reproductive health in Britain, a woman has successfully delivered a baby following a womb transplant, as confirmed by Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London on Tuesday.
The new mother, Grace Davidson, aged 36 and residing in southern England, was born without a functional womb. This changed in early 2023 when she became the first woman in the UK to undergo a womb transplant, thanks to her sister Amy who donated her womb as part of the Womb Transplant UK living donor initiative.
As documented in 2023 by BJOG, the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the initial donation and transplant procedures were conducted at the Oxford Transplant Centre, part of the OUH's Churchill Hospital.
Grace subsequently received In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment at the HCA UK's Lister Fertility Clinic in London. She has been under close observation at both the Churchill Hospital and Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, which operates under Imperial College Healthcare, where her baby was delivered.
Following a caesarean section in February 2025, both Grace and her newborn daughter are reported to be in excellent health, according to a hospital statement.
The couple, Grace and her partner Angus, have named their daughter Amy Isabel in honor of her sister who made the womb donation and Miss Isabel Quiroga, who co-led the transplant procedure.
Dr. Ippokratis Sarris, a consultant in reproductive medicine and director at King's Fertility, remarked, "The birth of the first baby in the UK following a womb transplant is an incredible milestone in reproductive medicine."
He added, "Although this intricate procedure will only be applicable to a limited number of women, it signifies a remarkable leap forward in medical science and care."
In Britain, approximately one in 5,000 women are born without a viable womb, making conception and carrying a child impossible. Many women also lose their wombs due to cancer or other medical issues.
Globally, there have been over 100 womb transplants, resulting in more than 50 healthy births, as reported by Xinhua. The first successful womb transplants occurred in 2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The Womb Transplant UK living donor project is supported by the charity Womb Transplant UK, which collects and manages public donations to cover the costs of transplant surgeries and related research.
The charity runs two programs: a live donor initiative for five transplants and an approved deceased donor research program that will encompass ten transplant operations.
Professor Richard Smith co-leads the UK living donor initiative and is the founder and chair of the charity. He stated, "This is the result of over 25 years of research, with significant contributions from numerous talented individuals, hospitals, and organizations collaborating with our charity."
He went on to say, "Our charity-funded program is still in its infancy, but we aspire to assist more women who currently cannot conceive or carry their own children."
