The announcement by digital content creator Kevin Kinuthia that he plans to undergo a uterus transplant has thrust a little-known medical procedure into Kenya’s national conversation.
A uterus transplant (UTx) is a highly complex surgical procedure in which a healthy uterus from a donor is transplanted into a recipient who was born without one, or lost it due to illness or injury.
Unlike kidney or liver transplants, which are typically life-saving, UTx is considered “life-enhancing,” allowing recipients to experience pregnancy.
The first successful birth from a transplanted uterus occurred in Sweden in 2014. Since then, fewer than 100 babies worldwide have been born through the procedure, with cases reported in the United States, Brazil, India, and the United Kingdom.
The transplant process begins with the identification of a donor, either living or deceased. The uterus is carefully removed and surgically implanted into the recipient, a procedure that can last 8 to 12 hours.
Once the organ is in place, the recipient undergoes in-vitro fertilization (IVF), since natural conception is not possible. If pregnancy occurs, the baby is delivered by Caesarean section. After one or two successful pregnancies, the uterus is often removed to avoid the long-term health risks associated with immunosuppressant drugs.
Doctors warn that the risks of UTx are significant.
For donors: Long surgery times, heavy bleeding, and potential damage to nearby organs such as the bladder and ureters.
For recipients: The risk of organ rejection, blood clots, infections due to suppressed immunity, and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and preterm birth.
For newborns: Higher likelihood of low birth weight and premature delivery.
The procedure also comes at a high financial cost, with estimates ranging from KSh 10 million to KSh 20 million per transplant abroad.
Although Kenya has experience in organ transplants, uterus transplants remain experimental and unavailable locally. However, Kenyan scientists have made indirect contributions to the field. The Institute of Primate Research (IPR) in Karen previously conducted uterus transplant trials on olive baboons, research that helped inform global breakthroughs.
Globally, uterus transplants have raised ethical questions about medical priorities, donor risks, and access. Should such expensive procedures be made available when cheaper alternatives like adoption and surrogacy exist? Who should qualify — women with infertility alone, or also transgender women seeking pregnancy?
Medical experts believe it will be several years before Kenya can consider a uterus transplant program. In the meantime, Kenyans seeking the procedure would need to travel abroad, where waiting lists are long and costs are prohibitive.