Gestational surrogacy: a feasible option for patients with Rokitansky syndrome

Rokitansky syndrome is a developmental defect characterized by agenesis of the uterus and vagina but normal gonads and secondary sexual characters. It is not commonly transmitted as a dominant genetic trait. Surrogacy, which is legally and ethically accepted in the UK and other countries, has made i t possible for the patients with this syndrome to have their own genetic ch ildren. Sis patients with Rokitansky syndrome underwent 11 ovarian stimulat ion cycles that resulted in 11 fresh and three frozen embryo transfer proce dures into six prospective surrogate mothers. Both commissioning and surrog ate couples were properly screened and counselled and their treatment was a pproved bu the clinic internal review committee (ethics committee), The tre atment cycles resulted in sis clinical pregnancies (42.9% pregnancy rate pe r embryo transfer and 54.5% per oocyte retrieval) and three live births (21 .4% per embryo transfer, 27.3% per retrieval and 50% per patient). Gestatio nal surrogacy is a viable treatment for patients with Rokitansky syndrome. Such patients should be well informed and supported to be able to have a fa mily using their own genetic gametes.