ROBO DOC

HOW robots are changing modern medicine. this week: Womb transplant

FOR the past two decades, scientists at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden, have been perfecting womb transplant techniques — so far, the research has led to eight successful births.

The technique involves transplanting wombs from living, related donors into women who have birth defects or problems as a result of past medical treatments.

Now, scientists believe robots might make the surgery faster and speed up recovery. They also think it will be easier for robots to navigate a woman’s pelvis.

The first robot- assisted uterus transplant has already been performed, as the International Society for Uterus Transplantation conference recently heard.

The womb has to be in place for at least a year before pregnancy can be considered, as this is when chances of rejection are reduced.

More transplants are planned this year.