Health & Medicine

Womb Transplant Baby: Turkish Woman Becomes Pregnant After Procedure

Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Apr 12, 2013 03:34 PM EDT

A Turkish housewife is the first woman in the world to become pregnant after undergoing a womb transplant.

Derya Sert, 22, from Anamur, southern Turkey, conceived after undergoing IVF treatment in August 2011. Specialists at Akdeniz University Hospital placed an embryo in Sert's womb earlier this week in the hopes that she would become the first woman with a uterus transplant to give birth. Doctors waited 18 months to start fertility treatment before they implanted the embryo-one of her eggs fertilized with her husband's sperm-into her womb.

Professor Mustafa Ünal, chief physician at Akdeniz University where the procedure was carried out, spoke regarding the procedure. "Two weeks after we implanted Mrs. Sert with a fertilized embryo, test results are consistent with early pregnancy. The patient's health is good. We will continue to announce any further developments."

Hospital spokeswoman Fusun Bas said Friday that early test results were "consistent with the expected signs of pregnancy" but cautioned that it is too early to declare Sert pregnant, according to The Daily Mail

However, as adoption does not give a couple a chance to have a child that is genetically related to them, this could mean great forges ahead for those suffering from similar issues who are wanting to also conceive. 

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