AfPP was honoured to welcome surgeon Miss Isabel Quiroga to the Oxford Regional Conference, recognising her pivotal role in the UK’s first womb transplant programme. Attendees were given a unique opportunity to hear directly from one of the surgeons behind this groundbreaking procedure, gaining insight into both the science and the personal stories that make it so remarkable.

In February 2025, the UK celebrated the birth of the first baby from a womb transplant, a medical first for the nation. For the first time, a woman born without a functioning womb gave birth following a transplant. The procedure was part of the charity-funded Womb Transplant UK living donor programme and was co-led by Miss Isabel Quiroga, consultant transplant and endocrine surgeon at Oxford Transplant Centre.

The mother received a uterus donated by her sister, and the birth of their daughter, named Amy Isabel in honour of both the donor sister and Miss Quiroga, marked a milestone in UK medical history.

This achievement is the culmination of over 25 years of pioneering research and innovation by a collaborative team of UK experts led by Professor Richard Smith, with more than a decade of critical contributions from Miss Isabel Quiroga. The programme involved a five-operation pathway approved by the Human Tissue Authority, supporting the mother from her transplant in Oxford, through IVF treatment in London, to the safe birth of her baby.

At the AfPP Regional Conference at Oxford University, Miss Quiroga delivered the session “Hope realised: The science and stories of UK uterus transplantation”, receiving a warm welcome and applause from attendees. She shared the intricate process of the procedure, the ethical and legal considerations, and the exciting potential future of uterine transplantation.

Reflecting on the experience, Miss Quiroga said, “Transplants usually save lives, but this procedure has enhanced and created life. Being part of this journey and helping a woman achieve her dream of carrying her own child has been an absolute privilege.”

Attendees left inspired by the combination of scientific innovation, teamwork, and human stories behind a procedure that is transforming possibilities for women.

Find out more from Isabel by watching this video: https://youtu.be/qoVjzQOFb8o