RVC womb transplant research

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:36:39 GMT

As far as i am aware, (and I may be wrong) the average number of children born to couples in most developed countries is close to or below 2. That is where surgery such as uterine transplants would be carried out.

The massive population explosion is due to the breeding rate in under-developed countries- unlikely to be affected unless more is done to educate there. Having said that, disease is still the limiting factor there....

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]I asked Mrs G. Her first reaction (and I appreciate that this is an answer given without the experience of not being able to have children, or researching the options properly), was that IVF would be first choice, and adoption second. Transplant? Probably not. [/quote]

Personally, I agree. Having seen someone's life after a transplant - which was improved from before the transplant but none-the-less, very difficult, it isn't something I would want just so that I could procreate. I doubt it would be particularly popular!

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:43:52 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]hmm.... I can see your point Arlo ..... but would your wife have agreed with you BEFORE she had children?[/quote]

I asked Mrs G. Her first reaction (and I appreciate that this is an answer given without the experience of not being able to have children, or researching the options properly), was that IVF would be first choice, and adoption second. Transplant? Probably not.

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]I wouldn't worry about overcrowing - nature will eventually reduce the stocking density by disease or lack of food - as it does in every species that roams the earth![/quote]

We are the ONLY species capable of devising solutions to disease and lack of food. I fear that science will keep finding ways for the earth to support a larger population and our quality of life will suffer way before nature intervenes.

And WHY? Why on earth do people feel there is some God-given right to breed? I just don't 'get' why it is taboo to talk about restricting the amount of children people have.

As far as I can see, population decline would be the easiest way to reduce global warming (if that is something you believe needs to be reduced).

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:30:54 GMT

[quote user="Stephen Ashman"]I find that quite an odd sentiment. What would remain to be allowed if research is in effect censored? How will it be decided?[/quote]

I wasn't arguing for the censorship of research. But I wonder whether the way in which research budgets are allocated should be more widely debated.

[quote user="Stephen Ashman"]Do you think research budgets should have been spent on developing renal transplants when that first started? [/quote]

God yes.

I'm absolutely 100% all for relieving suffering in the living (in particular physical pain) and improving the physical quality of life.

I find it harder to sympathise with mental or emotional pain. I suppose that's because I can relate to and understand physical pain more easily.

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Laurence Webb — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:41:38 GMT

The difference is between saving/extending a life and creating a life that wouldn't have existed otherwise.

There are welfare, economic and emotional issues involved with the premature death of a friend/relative/spouse/parent that don't exist for a life that has yet to be created. I obviously accept that there are emotional issues for a person/couple who are unable to become parents, but they are different.

On a practical note, would a transplant recitient require immunosuppressive drugs and still carry the risk of rejection for a transplant to be successful?

What risks are there for a foetus exposed to immunosuppressive drugs throughout pregnancy? What happens if the uterus is rejected? What if that occurs during pregnancy - surely 2 lives are at risk? After the pregnancy does the woman continue taking immunosuppresives through the rest of her life (which is presumably shortenend by taking them)? Does she have a hysterectomy instead?

I'm fortunate enough to have 2 healthy children so this hasn't been an issue for me, but I do wonder if this is heading into the territory of 'we can do this' rather than 'we should do this.'

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Stephen Ashman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:26:54 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Must say, I do find myself sympathising with some of the views in the comments posted on The Times so far. Are there not more important ways of spending a research budget than trying to find ways of yet further overpopulating our already overcrowded planet?[/quote]

I find that quite an odd sentiment. What would remain to be allowed if research is in effect censored? How will it be decided?

Do you think research budgets should have been spent on developing renal transplants when that first started? If that is acceptable what do you see as the difference?

Re: RVC womb transplant research

R. Antonio La Greca — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:22:43 GMT

I agree with you Gillian. We have to keep in mind that a lot of people are striving in search to go through the problem of infertility. This is a real painful feeling that hit deeply human being and I'd be very happy if such researches were made in Italy!

All the best

R. Antonio

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:45:33 GMT

hmm.... I can see your point Arlo ..... but would your wife have agreed with you BEFORE she had children?

I was lucky enough to have been able to have children without any difficulties - I can't imagine the pain of this not being possible.

I personally think the debate about whether this research is valid is a completely different debate the that about family planning!

I wouldn't worry about overcrowing - nature will eventually reduce the stocking density by disease or lack of food - as it does in every species that roams the earth!

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Clive Ansell — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:17:48 GMT

Where I am working at the moment, most wombs in the population seem to be fully functional, with many having 1 or 2 offspring prior to the age of consent. Hysterectomies would be more beneficial than transplants.

Re: RVC womb transplant research

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:32:08 GMT

Starting this one looks like a certain cure for "nothing more to say !!!!!!!!"

Wynne