Being diagnosed with MRKH:

I was diagnosed with MRKH quite late – at the age of 19. It was very difficult news to try and process.

My hopes and dreams of becoming pregnant, having a large family and the timeframe for this, hadn’t fully formed yet and it felt like these were already being taken off the table or clouded with uncertainty. 

When I was diagnosed the consultant made me aware of the research looking into womb transplants. This was mentioned, alongside other options of surrogacy and adoption. He hoped that womb transplants might become a viable option in my lifetime, although the chance of this felt extremely remote at the time. 

Approaching Prof Richard Smith and WTUK

I met my now husband at the age of 19 shortly after being diagnosed with MRKH. We both strongly wanted a family and tried to stay hopeful that this would be possible when the time was right. I had given surrogacy and adoption a lot of thought, however these options were not without their challenges and I couldn’t escape the deep longing I had to become pregnant and to know and nurture our child from the earliest moment.

The year we were married in 2014 we approached the womb transplant team and thankfully we were later accepted onto the deceased donor programme in 2015. 

Considering the live donor route and my sister offering to become my donor:

Getting final ethical approval for the deceased donor programme was taking a very long time. Meanwhile living donor womb transplants were having success in other countries and this was becoming an accepted and viable treatment option across the world, including the UK.

The option of considering the live donor route was suggested by the team in 2018 as we desperately wanted to start our family and had already been on the deceased donor trial for 3 years by this point. 

My mum initially offered to be my donor but after a series of tests was later ruled out for medical reasons. My two older sisters had also offered to be tested and my sister Amy, who had since completed her family, was found to be a suitable donor in 2019.

It was very difficult to even consider these offers for help and the possibility of putting them in harm’s way. Amy and I decided to take things one test and decision at a time, trusting that it would either be ruled out or that the idea of pursuing this further would feel too weighty if it was the wrong decision. Following a lot of tests and careful consideration we both felt it was the right thing to do. After further delays, including the years of COVID, the surgery was able to go ahead on the 12th February 2023.

Where we are now:

Two years on we are here welcoming our baby girl, Amy Isabel, into the world. It has been a very difficult journey for many reasons but we are overcome with gratitude and thanks for the team and the charity that have made this possible. During the 10 years that we have been part of this process the team have become like family and have helped to give us the greatest gift we could ever have asked for.

We are, though, very aware that for many couples who have gone before us, carrying a baby could only be a dream. We sincerely hope that going forward this could become a wonderful reality, and provide an additional option, for women who would otherwise be unable to carry their own child. 

Grace Davidson

February 2025