Who should provide the uterus? The ethics of live donor recruitment for uterus transplantation

J Med Ethics. 2023 Aug 28:jme-2023-109227. doi: 10.1136/jme-2023-109227. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is an experimental surgery likely to face the issue of organ shortage. In my article, I explore how this issue might be addressed by changing the prevailing practices around live uterus donor recruitment. Currently, women with children - often the mothers of recipients - tend to be overrepresented as donors. Yet, other potentially eligible groups who may have an interest in providing their uterus - such as transgender men, or cisgender women who do not wish to gestate or to have children - tend to be excluded as potential donors. Moving forward, I recommend that donor inclusion criteria for UTx be broadened to be more inclusive of these latter groups.

Keywords: Ethics; Reproductive Medicine; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Transplantation.