
A successful transplant would be a huge development for reproductive medicine.
As we reported recently, the first uterus transplant in the United States failed. But what was the real reason such an important transplant failed? The surprising truth is that it was something incredibly common that affects women.
Initially, reports indicated that the transplant failed because of an infection that resulted from a “compromised’ blood supply. The Cleveland Clinic confirmed in a statement that this was the cause, but was cryptic on exactly what caused the body to reject the uterus. However, numerous outlets, including NBC News, is reporting that it was a yeast infection.
Yeast infections are common in women, and the microbe that causes it is a common one called Candida.
The clinic didn’t come out and say this was the cause, but it certainly alluded to it in their statement, noting that the complication was caused by an “organism that is commonly found in a woman’s reproductive system.”
Here’s the Cleveland Clinic’s statement on the transplant rejection: “Preliminary results suggest that the complication was due to an infection caused by an organism that is commonly found in a woman’s reproductive system. The infection appears to have compromised the blood supply to the uterus, causing the need for its removal. There is an ongoing review of all the data and the team is modifying the protocol to reduce the chances of this complication occurring again in the future. The health of our patient is and has always been our primary concern.”
Lindsey, the woman who had the uterus transplant, said in an earlier statement: “I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude towards all of my doctors. They acted very quickly to ensure my health and safety. Unfortunately I did lose the uterus to complications. However, I am doing okay and appreciate all of your prayers and good thoughts.”
Leave a Reply