Currently, there are heated discussions about the linguistic limitations of the binary
gender model for the representation of the various forms of gender expression. In
Anglo-Saxon countries, the possibility of using gender-neutral articles and pronouns
is being discussed, while in our Brazilian population, the gender derivation vowel
of pronouns is sometimes substituted by the ‘@’ or ‘x’ characters. The proper nomenclature
to refer to these people must respect the genre with which they identify themselves.
Thus, when referring to an individual born with biological male sex and with female
gender identity, we must use the term transgender woman.
Not every transgender individual must necessarily undergo sex reassignment surgery.
This must be a particular decision made by each individual in conjunction with the
multidisciplinary team following the case, according to Resolution number 208/2009,
of the Regional Medical Council of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian Unified
Health System (SUS, in the Portuguese acronym), within the principles of universality
and integrality, has regulated the necessary conditions for the process of sex reassignment
by ordinance number 2836/2011. Nowadays, access to the sexual reassignment process
and the adequate follow-up are the main challenges faced by the transgender population,
which is estimated to be between 0.3% and 0.6% of the general population in the United
States.1
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The success of the first uterine transplantation recently performed in our country
opens a new field of activity in the area of human reproduction. It may assist women
with no possibility of becoming pregnant, such as those with congenital agenesis of
the uterus, massive destruction of the endometrium after infected abortion, or those
hysterectomized.4 However, we still have much to improve in this field before its
consolidation as a concrete alternative for these women.
The improvement of this technique should lead to the inevitable question about the
possibilities of its application in contexts different from those initially imagined,
that is, expanding it to transgender individuals. This hypothesis is certainly a broad
question for many researchers. The only historical reference for attempted uterine
transplantation in the literature was reported in Germany, in 1931. The transgender
woman Lili Elbe underwent uterus transplantation and died after three months due to
surgery complications. This fact brought repercussions and discussions both in academia
and in the media. It was even portrayed in the film The Danish Girl (2015).5 Perhaps,
this is a limitation of the technique for uterine transplantation.
Transgender individuals have gender identity that is inconsistent with their biological
sex. This disagreement can cause intense psychologic suffering, and has no correlation
with preferences or objects of sexual desire. The individual feels dissatisfied with
his/her own body, and this feeling is independent from the romantic relationship models
experienced. In this scenario, there is a desire for complete transformation, including
the possibility of procreation, which is a major dilemma with the existing technology.
Reproductive rights are recognized as universal rights by the Brazilian legislation,
including the LGBTT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender) population,
who have specific rights of access to health as stated by law, among which the recognition
of their social name, according to Federal Decree number 8727/2016,6 and State Decree
- SP number 55588/2010.7 Article 2 of the LGBTT National Health Policy8 has among
its specific objectives: to guarantee the sexual and reproductive rights of the LGBTT
population within the Brazilian Health System to promote the improvement of technologies
used in the sexual reassignment process for women and men; and to conduct studies
and research related to the development of services and technologies aimed at the
health needs of the LGBTT population. This last objective poses a great challenge,
especially regarding uterine transplantation.
In the ethical sphere, Resolution number 2121/20159 of the Brazilian Federal Council
of Medicine regulates assisted reproduction (AR) services in the country and establishes
the following: 1) all capable people who request the procedure, and if the indication
is not distant from the limits of this resolution, can be recipients of AR techniques,
provided that the participants are in full agreement and duly informed in accordance
with current legislation; 2) the use of AR techniques is allowed for homosexual couples
and single people, respecting the right to conscientious objection by the physician;
3) shared gestation is allowed for a homosexual couple with no infertility issues.
There is no comment on uterine transplantation in this resolution.
Within the diverse expectations of our society regarding romantic relationships, one
of the most prevalent is the formation of a family nucleus that can extend over time.
In this context, it is a matter of time until new family structures start to request
assistance from health services to achieve this goal. At this point, there is a greater
need to discuss new techniques, such as uterine transplantation.
Among the limitations of the uterine transplantation technique is the organ fixation
in the abdominal cavity. To this end, round, uterosacral ligaments, and sometimes
parametrial ligaments of the recipient woman are used. For a successful implanted
gestation, it is necessary to undergo a specific hormone therapy prior to embryo transfer,
and throughout pregnancy. Concomitantly, immunosuppressive drugs are critical in preventing
the rejection of the transplanted uterus, but they also allow other complications
to arise, including opportunistic infections. These are the major challenges to the
existing technique.4
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In the current context, for the performance of the technique in individuals of male
biological sex, great modifications and improvements would be necessary. Anatomical
and physiological differences have to be overcome, such as the shape of the male pelvis,
which is narrower and has a smaller opening than the female pelvis, and that could
hinder the implantation and growth of the uterus during pregnancy. The ligaments used
for the fixation of the uterus in the abdominal cavity are non-existing structures
in men. The hormonal management prior to embryo transfer and for the maintenance of
the pregnancy should also be adapted to the male hormonal profile. The immunosuppressive
scheme could be adapted to the transplantation of other organs in men, but there still
is no consensus on which scheme is effective in the case of uterine transplantation.
There is also the psychological impact of this type of surgery on transgender women.
All of these issues require extensive debate and a lot of research time.
In the clinical practice, uterine transplantation is a surgery still performed on
an experimental basis that requires further studies before its extension to transgender
women. In the current stage of technical development, uterine transplant surgery should
not be recommended for transgender women.