SCIENCE REPORT - Uterus Transplant Operation

SCIENCE REPORT
–
March 20, 2002: Uterus Transplant Operation

By George Grow

This is the VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT.

Doctors in Saudi Arabia have performed the first human uterus transplant operation.

The doctors say the woman who received the uterus had two monthly fertile periods after the operation.
However, the uterus had to be removed after three months. Doctors say the experiment shows that a uterus
transplant operation is technically¹ possible. Yet some experts say it is very risky² and question its value.

The idea of uterus transplants was first explored in the Nineteen-Fifties. Little progress had been made since then.
Many scientists considered it too difficult because of the many small and complex blood vessels³ that must be
connected.

The uterus transplant operation was performed two years ago at the King Fahad Hospital and Research Center in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Doctors transplanted the uterus into a twenty-six year old Saudi woman. Doctors had removed her uterus six
years earlier because of uncontrolled bleeding after the birth of her first child. The woman wanted to have
another baby. The transplant organ came from a forty-six year old woman. She had a condition that required the
removal of her reproductive organs. However, her uterus was healthy.

The younger woman took powerful drugs both before and after the operation so her body would not reject the
organ. The drugs suppressed her body’s natural defenses against disease. She also was given hormone⁴
injections to help the transplanted uterus develop normally.

The doctors say the uterus performed normally for ninety-nine days. Then tests showed that blood flow to the
organ had stopped. That forced doctors to remove it.The International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
described the experiment. A commentary published with the report said the operation should be considered a
success. Some American experts said the experiment offered hope to women who want to have a baby and have
been unable to do so.

Other experts question the idea of such a transplant operation. Most organ transplant operations are done to save
a patient ’s life. They argue that a uterus is not necessary for a woman’s survival. They also note that the anti-
rejection drugs that a woman must take have strong side effects. These might harm a developing fetus⁵.

This VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT was written by George Grow.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version

1 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

2 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

5 fetus   

n.胎，胎儿

参考例句：

• In the fetus,blood cells are formed in different sites at different ages.胎儿的血细胞在不同时期生成在不同的部位。
• No one knows why a fetus is not automatically rejected by the mother's immune system. 没有人知道为什么母亲的免疫系统不会自动排斥胎儿。