Uterus transplantation trial: Psychological evaluation of recipients and partners during the post-transplantation year

Abstract

Objective: To explore the psychology and well-being of the nine patients undergoing uterus transplantation (UTx) as part of the first clinical trial, during the first 12 months of which seven patients experienced graft survival with occasional mild rejection episodes and two patients experienced graft failure, with hysterectomy.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient(s): Nine female uterine recipients and their partners.

Intervention(s): Psychological evaluations by questionnaires focusing on quality of life, mood, relationship, and fertility quality of life were conducted at inclusion and at 3, 6, and 12 months after UTx.

Main outcome measure(s): Scores of four different questionnaires regarding mood, quality of life, fertility quality of life, and relationship.

Result(s): In all questionnaire domains, the recipients and their partners showed a similar pattern at baseline, and the UTx group, including both recipients and partners, scored similarly or better when compared with relevant norm groups. Among the recipients there was a reversible decline in score of physical activity and increased bodily pain at 3 months past surgery.

Conclusion(s): The results show that participants of this first UTx trial were psychologically stable both at baseline and during the first year, despite rejection episodes and possible worries about viability of graft.

Clinical trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.govNCT01844362.

Keywords: Infertility; psychology; transplantation; uterus.