Psychosocial outcomes of uterine transplant recipients and partners up to 3 years after transplantation: results from the Swedish trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the psychosocial outcomes of recipients and their partners 2 and 3 years after entering this first clinical uterus transplantation study.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient(s): Nine women with absolute uterine factor infertility and their male partners participated.

Intervention(s): Psychosocial evaluations using questionnaires focusing on health-related quality-of-life, mood, relationship, and fertility-related quality-of-life were conducted at 2- and 3-year follow-up after transplantation.

Main outcome measure(s): Scores were obtained on the validated questionnaires 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Fertility Quality of life measuring health-related quality-of-life, mood, relationship, and infertility-associated life quality, respectively.

Result(s): There was a reversible decrease (at year 2) in the physical component of SF-36 concerning recipients, but not in partners. Negative deviations in the mental component of SF-36 were seen in four recipients, and in two of their partners at year 3, possibly related to the fact that live birth had not been achieved yet among three of these women. Childlessness also seemed to be related to reporting elevated anxiety scores. Most recipients and partners stated high satisfaction with marital relationship both at inclusion and at follow-up.

Conclusion(s): The results of the present study show that even if the baseline psychosocial characteristics of the women to undergo transplantation and their partners were stable and equal or better compared with norm populations, graft failure and failure to achieve parenthood will pose psychological strains on couples in the period up to 3 years after transplantation. Psychological counseling should be offered past 3 years for recipients and their partners.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT01844362.

Keywords: Uterus; infertility; psychosocial outcomes; quality-of-life; transplantation.