Cleveland Clinic Performs Nation's First Uterus Transplant
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Surgeons in Cleveland say they have performed the nation's first uterus transplant, a new frontier that aims to give women who lack wombs a chance at pregnancy.
In a statement Thursday, the Cleveland Clinic said the nine-hour surgery was performed a day earlier on a 26-year-old woman, using a uterus from a deceased donor.
The hospital had long been planning for such a surgery, announcing last fall that it would attempt 10 such transplants in a clinical trial. The hospital said it wouldn't release any more details about the transplant until a press conference next week.
Other countries have tried womb transplants - and Sweden reported the first successful birth in 2014, with a total of five healthy babies so far.
The Cleveland Clinic began screening candidates for uterus transplants late last year.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter