Health · Medical Research · 5 hrs ago
Fujita Health University seeks approval for uterus transplant trial
Fujita Health University in Aichi Prefecture is seeking approval to study uterus transplants in Japan.
The proposed trial would help women who do not have a uterus because of a disorder or a condition present from birth try to become pregnant and give birth.
The plan would involve about three patients, with researchers transplanting a donated uterus and implanting an embryo made from the patient’s egg and her partner’s sperm.
Donors are expected to include female relatives, such as the patients’ mothers.
More than 80 births have followed uterus transplants overseas, but the procedure raises ethical questions about using a transplant for a purpose other than saving a life and removing a healthy organ from a living donor.
The university has submitted its proposal to an internal review board and hopes to begin the research next year; approval is still being sought.
Fujita Health University in Aichi Prefecture has submitted a proposal to its internal review board for a clinical trial of uterus transplants.
The trial would study transplants for about three women without a uterus who wish to become pregnant and give birth.
Researchers plan to transplant donated uteruses and implant embryos made from the patients’ eggs and their partners’ sperm.
The university says the procedure could offer hope, but it raises ethical questions about transplanting an organ for a purpose other than saving life and removing a healthy organ from a living donor.
If conducted as planned, the trial would mark Japan’s first uterus transplant.
- Who
- Fujita Health University in Aichi Prefecture submitted the proposal. The planned trial would include about three patients.
- What
- The university is seeking approval for a clinical trial of uterus transplants.
- When
- The proposal was submitted on Monday, October 26, 2026. The university hopes to start the research next year.
- Where
- Fujita Health University, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- The research aims to enable women without a uterus to become pregnant and give birth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sweden reported the world’s first successful birth following a uterus transplant.
The Japanese Association of Medical Sciences released a report allowing uterus transplants in clinical trials in a small number of cases.
Fujita Health University established a working group to discuss uterus transplants.
The university submitted its trial proposal to its internal review board.
The university announced it was seeking approval for the clinical trial.
- Trial size
- About three patients
- Proposal submitted
- Monday, October 26, 2026
- Planned research start
- Next year
- Potential donors
- Female relatives, including patients’ mothers
- Overseas procedures
- More than 150 uterus transplants have been performed, resulting in more than 80 births
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What people are saying
We want to start the research sometime next year,