operating theater

Woman could become first in world to give birth from transplanted womb - donated by her mum

Doctors have successfully transferred an embryo into her body, giving hope to thousands facing similar struggles to have a child. A woman could become the first in the world to give birth from a transplanted womb - donated by her mum. Doctors have successfully transferred an embryo into her body, giving hope to thousands facing similar struggles to have a child. It means the baby would be delivered using the womb the mother was born from herself. Dr Mats Brannstrom, behind the process, said: "The best scenario is a baby in nine months. "A success would be an important proof of principle that a procedure is available to cure uterine infertility." The embryo was transferred last week, months after the Swede - born without a womb due to genetic syndrome MRKH - had the transplant. Medics used the woman's own egg. She is one of nine who had the transplants between September 2012 and last April. The patients have been deeply affected by the experience. Dr Brannstrom, of the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, where the procedure was carried out, said: "They say: 'Now I feel like a real woman for the first time'." The development may one day help 200,000 people in Europe. MRKH hits one in 5,000 women and stops the womb developing, but they still have working ovaries. Sandra Boine, 26, has the condition. She said of the procedure: "When I read about it I cried for hours. "I've got a chance to make a child on my own. There's hope."