Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

British Woman Gives Birth After Rare Womb Transplant Surgery

For the first time, a baby boy has been born to a mother with a womb transplanted from a deceased donor at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea hospital in London. 

Weighing merely 3.09kg (6lb 13oz), <span>Hugo Powell</span> was born to Grace <span>Bell</span> and <span>Steve Powell</span> from Kent, right before Christmas 2025. "It's simply a miracle. I never, ever thought that this would be possible," Bell said. "I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life. When I was 16, I was told that this would never be possible," she said of her son's birth.

The father added: "When he came over the curtain, it was just sort of overwhelming emotions. I felt like I wanted to cry, but couldn't. From where we started - first meeting - to where we are today, with Hugo, is nothing short of a miracle after everything we've been through. It just felt quite unreal at the time, because this has been a long journey for us both."

The couple also paid tribute to the "kindness and selflessness" of their transplant donor and her family for their "incredible gift", while also thanking medical teams in Oxford and London who supported their journey.

"There are no words to say thank you enough to my donor and her family. Their kindness and selflessness to a complete stranger is the reason I have been able to fulfil my lifelong dream of being a mum.

"I hope they know that my child will always know of their incredible gift, and the miracle that brought him into this world," Bell said. 

<h2>What Is Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Disorder?</h2>

Bell, an IT programme manager, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (<span>MRKH</span>), a disorder that causes the vagina and uterus to be underdeveloped or absent. MRKH syndrome is also called:

<ul><li>Müllerian agenesis</li><li>Müllerian aplasia</li><li>Congenital absence of the uterus and vagina</li><li>Rokitansky syndrome</li></ul>Without a uterus, the affected women do not have menstrual periods. Often, the first noticeable sign of MRKH syndrome is that menstruation does not begin by age 15 (primary amenorrhea).

While women with MRKH syndrome have normal external genitalia, functioning ovaries, breast and pubic hair development, they are unable to carry a pregnancy and rely on either surrogacy or a womb transplant, as in the case of Bell.

<ul><li>Type 1: The patient has normally functioning ovaries and fallopian tubes but a blocked or missing upper vagina, cervix and uterus. No other organs are affected.</li><li>Type 2: The patient has a blocked or missing upper vagina, cervix and uterus as well as issues with ovaries, fallopian tubes, spine, kidneys or other organs.</li></ul>Researchers are yet to determine a cause for the disorder. Originally, scientists suspected that MRKH syndrome was caused by environmental factors during pregnancy, such as medication or maternal illness,  however certain studies suggest that genetic changes can pave the way for the disorder to develop in women.

 However, these genetic changes have been found in only a small number of affected people and subsequent studies have not identified a clear association between MRKH syndrome and any specific environmental factors. It remains unclears whether they actually cause MRKH syndrome. 

Treatment for MRKH depends on the patient's goals and symptoms and some options include:

<ul><li>Vaginal dilators: Dilators are made of plastic or silicone and vary in length and width. These tubelike devices help expand and stretch the inside of the vagina.</li><li>Vaginoplasty: This is a surgical procedure to create a vagina. There are several ways surgeons perform vaginoplasty, but most involve creating a hole and lining it with tissue from another part of your body.</li><li>Uterus transplant: This is a major surgery that involves placing a donor uterus inside someone without a uterus. Uterine transplants give people with MRKH an opportunity to carry and deliver a child. Uterus transplants are rare.</li></ul>

<h2>How Did Bell Conceive Her Child?</h2>Recalling her initial diagnosis, Bell said: "About 16 years ago, I was diagnosed with MRKH. It was a tough journey. I must admit, a very sad journey. I remember the story of the first womb transplant in Sweden, many years ago now, and following that story intently.

"I still can't believe that I'm here today and I've gone through this. It's just amazing."

At the age of 16, the new mother was told she wouldn't be able to carry her own child. However, in 2024 she received a phone call saying a womb had been donated and a transplant was possible, a moment she recalls left her "in complete shock" and "really excited".

Bell's womb transplant operation lasted 10 hours and took place at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford in June 2024 After her transplant surgery,  she began fertility treatments several months after the transplant in 2024 and her son was born a year later. 

According to The Guardian, Bell's transplanted womb will be removed when the couple have finished having children, to save her from a lifetime of taking immunosuppressant drugs.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

Grace Bell Womb Transplant

mrkh

bell

steve powell

hugo powell

Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser Disorder

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For the first time, a baby boy has been born to a mother with a womb transplanted from a deceased donor at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea hospital in London. Weighing merely 3.09kg (6lb 13oz), Hugo Powell was born to Grace Bell and Steve Powell from Kent, right before Christmas 2025. "It's simply a miracle. I never, ever thought that this would be possible," Bell said. "I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life. When I was 16, I was told that this would never be possible," she said of her son's birth.The father added: "When he came over the curtain, it was just sort of overwhelming emotions. I felt like I wanted to cry, but couldn't. From where we started - first meeting - to where we are today, with Hugo, is nothing short of a miracle after everything we've been through. It just felt quite unreal at the time, because this has been a long journey for us both."The couple also paid tribute to the "kindness and selflessness" of their transplant donor and her family for their "incredible gift", while also thanking medical teams in Oxford and London who supported their journey."There are no words to say thank you enough to my donor and her family. Their kindness and selflessness to a complete stranger is the reason I have been able to fulfil my lifelong dream of being a mum."I hope they know that my child will always know of their incredible gift, and the miracle that brought him into this world," Bell said. What Is Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Disorder?Bell, an IT programme manager, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH), a disorder that causes the vagina and uterus to be underdeveloped or absent. MRKH syndrome is also called:Müllerian agenesisMüllerian aplasiaCongenital absence of the uterus and vaginaRokitansky syndromeWithout a uterus, the affected women do not have menstrual periods. Often, the first noticeable sign of MRKH syndrome is that menstruation does not begin by age 15 (primary amenorrhea).While women with MRKH syndrome have normal external genitalia, functioning ovaries, breast and pubic hair development, they are unable to carry a pregnancy and rely on either surrogacy or a womb transplant, as in the case of Bell.There are two versions of the disorder:Type 1: The patient has normally functioning ovaries and fallopian tubes but a blocked or missing upper vagina, cervix and uterus. No other organs are affected.Type 2: The patient has a blocked or missing upper vagina, cervix and uterus as well as issues with ovaries, fallopian tubes, spine, kidneys or other organs.Researchers are yet to determine a cause for the disorder. Originally, scientists suspected that MRKH syndrome was caused by environmental factors during pregnancy, such as medication or maternal illness,  however certain studies suggest that genetic changes can pave the way for the disorder to develop in women. However, these genetic changes have been found in only a small number of affected people and subsequent studies have not identified a clear association between MRKH syndrome and any specific environmental factors. It remains unclears whether they actually cause MRKH syndrome. Treatment for MRKH depends on the patient's goals and symptoms and some options include:Vaginal dilators: Dilators are made of plastic or silicone and vary in length and width. These tubelike devices help expand and stretch the inside of the vagina.Vaginoplasty: This is a surgical procedure to create a vagina. There are several ways surgeons perform vaginoplasty, but most involve creating a hole and lining it with tissue from another part of your body.Uterus transplant: This is a major surgery that involves placing a donor uterus inside someone without a uterus. Uterine transplants give people with MRKH an opportunity to carry and deliver a child. Uterus transplants are rare.How Did Bell Conceive Her Child?Recalling her initial diagnosis, Bell said: "About 16 years ago, I was diagnosed with MRKH. It was a tough journey. I must admit, a very sad journey. I remember the story of the first womb transplant in Sweden, many years ago now, and following that story intently."I still can't believe that I'm here today and I've gone through this. It's just amazing."At the age of 16, the new mother was told she wouldn't be able to carry her own child. However, in 2024 she received a phone call saying a womb had been donated and a transplant was possible, a moment she recalls left her "in complete shock" and "really excited".Bell's womb transplant operation lasted 10 hours and took place at The Churchill Hospital in Oxford in June 2024 After her transplant surgery,  she began fertility treatments several months after the transplant in 2024 and her son was born a year later. According to The Guardian, Bell's transplanted womb will be removed when the couple have finished having children, to save her from a lifetime of taking immunosuppressant drugs.