In 2015, the hospital clinic began this pilot program for uterus transplants in five specific cases of women with Rokitansky syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by the absence of the uterus and fallopian tubes, but preserves the ovaries. The hospital obtained necessary permissions from the ethics committees and the health department to carry out this pioneering program.
Their first candidate was Tamara, who had known since her teenage years that she would not be able to conceive. Her research led her to Dr. Carmona, who is responsible for the program, who surprisingly contacted her the next day. Thus began a process full of trials for both her and her sister, who eventually donated her womb to her. A 20-hour surgery was intervened on October 5, 2020, which was successful, marking an important milestone in the path to motherhood.
Hard road
Despite this happy ending, the road was not an easy one. Two months after surgery, the patient experienced her first menstrual cycle as normal, showing substantial improvement. As part of the organ transplant protocol, Tamara received immunosuppressive treatment, the same as for anyone receiving an organ transplant. However, it was necessary to wait six months from the start of her menstrual cycle to complete the first embryo transfer, which had already been collected.
At the same time, during this period, the first vaccinations against COVID-19 began to be administered, and it was decided to prioritize Tamara’s vaccination due to her at-risk condition due to immunosuppressive treatment. After receiving the vaccine, Tamara was able to become pregnant, but unfortunately she miscarried in the eighth week of pregnancy, a condition that can occur in patients undergoing fertility treatment.
After a few months and after Tamara had fully recovered, she contracted a mild form of COVID-19, requiring an additional amount of time to wait before attempting another embryo transfer. Finally, a new fertilization took place and Tamara was able to successfully become pregnant with her son Jesus.
Additionally, during her pregnancy, Tamara experienced a complication called preeclampsia, which is characterized by increased blood pressure. This condition may be due to the immunosuppressants being taken by Tamara to prevent rejection of the transplanted uterus. However, thanks to several medical check-ups during the pregnancy period, the medical team was able to monitor and control preeclampsia until the pregnancy reached seven months. At that point, it was decided to induce labor by caesarean section, which was successfully performed on March 10 without any complications.
Baby Jesus was born prematurely, weighing just over a kilogram, but his health condition has shown positive improvement. After receiving the necessary care in the hospital, he managed to reach a weight of 3.2 kg, allowing him and his parents to be discharged and return to their home in Murcia.
