EXPERIENCE WITH GESTATIONAL SURROGACY AS A TREATMENT FOR STERILITY RESULTING FROM HYSTERECTOMY

A retrospective study was carried out to assess the potential of 16 hy sterectomized women to achieve surrogate pregnancies. A total of 11 pa tients completed 16 cycles of assisted conception treatment incorporat ing in-vitro fertilization and gestational surrogacy, Three other wome n failed to respond to ovulation induction while two more patients pro duced few oocytes which also failed to fertilize, Six host mothers bec ame pregnant thereby giving a pregnancy rate of 37.5% (6/16) per patie nt and embryo transfer and 27.3% (6/22) per cycle of treatment commenc ed. Two women later miscarried, three have given birth to twins and th e remaining host has delivered a male infant, The commissioning mother 's age was closely related to occurrence and continuation of pregnancy in the host. Hysterectomized women demonstrate varying patterns of re sponse to assisted conception treatment but gestational surrogacy gene rally appears to be a feasible option. especially in younger patients.