Uterus transplantation in and beyond cisgender women: revisiting procreative liberty in light of emerging reproductive technologies

Abstract

Whilst internationally a growing body of literature is emerging on uterus transplantation as the latest advance in assisted reproductive technology, much of this has been devoted to responding to the ethical questions raised by this procedure in the context of its immediate purpose, to restore fertility in cisgender women. Very few have addressed whether it can be claimed that there is a right to gestate under the umbrella of procreative liberty, nor whether such a right, if it does exist, applies not only to cisgender women, but also transgender and gender variant individuals and cisgender men. In honour of Professor Robertson, I advance the debate further by examining the arguments put forward in his last paper and whether the right to gestate extends beyond cisgender women.

Keywords: gestation; procreative liberty; reproduction; uterus transplantation.