Attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions among women toward uterus transplantation and donation in the United Kingdom

Saaliha Vali; Benjamin P Jones; Sairah Sheikh; Srdjan Saso; Isabel Quiroga; J Richard Smith

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1223228

Attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions among women toward uterus transplantation and donation in the United Kingdom

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Aug 16:10:1223228. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1223228. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Saaliha Vali^{1

2

3}, Benjamin P Jones^{1

2}, Sairah Sheikh⁴, Srdjan Saso^{1

2}, Isabel Quiroga⁵, J Richard Smith^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ West London Gynaecological Cancer Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
² Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
³ Cutrale Perioperative and Ageing Group, Sir Michael Uren Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
⁴ Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
⁵ The Oxford Transplant Centre, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the motivations and perceptions of the general public in the United Kingdom toward donating their uterus for Uterus Transplantation after death (UTx).

Design: A cross sectional study.

Setting: A 32-item electronic questionnaire.

Population: One hundred fifty nine females over the age of 16 living in the United Kingdom, consented and took part in the study.

Main outcome measures: The motivations and perceptions toward UTx among the general public including the willingness to donate and barriers preventing donation.

Results: One hundred fifty nine women completed the questionnaire. The majority had never heard of UTx (n = 107, 71%) and most were not aware the uterus could be donated after death (n = 130, 92%). 43% of the cohort were willing to donate their uterus after death (n = 57). 8% stated they wished to donate their organs but not their uterus (n = 10). 30% of women (n = 42) believed the child born following UTx would have genetic links to the donor. Over half of the respondents (n = 65, 51%) strongly agreed or agreed they would feel joy in the knowledge that donation would lead to bringing a new life into the world. A quarter of respondents strongly agreed or agreed (n = 45, 25%) that the use of their uterus by another woman would feel like an extension of life.

Conclusion: The findings indicate a favorable opinion toward UTx and a positive attitude toward donation of the uterus after death among the general public in the United Kingdom. The findings also highlight the need for education around UTx now this therapeutic option is available.

Keywords: MRKH; gynecology; infertility; organ donation; transplantation.