New Frontiers in Reproductive Health: Australians' Support for Uterus Transplantation.

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a global public health concern, and as a result, fertility treatments continue to evolve. Uterus transplantation is a novel procedure where a healthy donor uterus is transplanted into an individual without a functioning uterus who desires pregnancy, allowing them to participate in the genetic, gestational and social components of parenthood. Previous studies in several countries have investigated their population's views regarding uterus transplants to aid in awareness and understanding. However, Australians' views have not been explored outside the absolute uterine factor infertility community.

Aims: We aimed to examine Australians' support for uterus transplantation and the factors associated with higher support for the procedure's availability, Medicare subsidisation and ethical acceptance.

Materials and methods: Participants (N = 349, aged 17-68) completed an online cross-sectional survey comprising demographics, fertility and transplant history and perceptions of uterus transplantation.

Results: Most Australians supported uterus transplantation availability (84.5%), subsidisation (67.3%) and ethical acceptance (73.3%). Male gender, non-university education, younger age, high parenthood importance and higher beliefs that the procedure is safe for the recipient, donor and infant/child predicted higher support for availability. Higher beliefs in uterus transplantation being safe for the recipient predicted higher support for subsidisation. Male gender and increased parenthood importance predicted higher levels of ethical acceptance.

Conclusions: Despite ethical complexities surrounding the procedure, Australians were generally supportive of uterus transplantation. While our findings may inform future policies about uterus transplantation, research examining public perceptions over time, with the birth of more children and health professionals' perceptions, would be beneficial.