London doctor to carry out first womb transplants in Britain next year

Success story: Vincent, the first baby born to a woman who had a womb transplant, being held by his mother in Sweden last year AP Photo/Ben Jary

A London doctor will lead out the UK’s first womb transplants early next year, it has been revealed.

Ten British women without wombs will be given the chance to carry their own children after the procedure was given the go-ahead by ethics chiefs at Imperial College London.

Babies would be delivered by Caesarean section so the donor womb would not have to go through labour.

After a woman has given birth, she will be given the option of trying for one more baby – otherwise, the womb will be removed by surgeons 

Six months after giving birth, each woman will be given the option of trying for one more baby, or the womb will be removed by surgeons so she can come off immunosuppressant drugs, which increase the risk of cancer.

More than 100 UK women, out of 300 who applied, have been identified as potential recipients.

Consultant gynaecologist Richard Smith has been working on the project for nearly 20 years and will lead the surgical team when it carries out the first procedure in the spring.

He said childlessness could be a “disaster” for couples, but the technique would offer hope to those whose only other option is surrogacy or adoption.

About one in every 5,000 women is born without a womb, while others lose their womb to cancer.

A baby boy was born in Sweden last year following a womb transplant.