Impact of UTx on Reproductive Choice
Participants were asked about the impact of UTx on reproductive choice, specifically about if it expands options or puts pressure on women to pursue UTx instead of alternatives. They uniformly believed that: uterus transplantation expanded parenthood options for women with AUFI, reproductive decisions including the choice to pursue uterus transplantation are highly personal, and the option of uterus transplantation does not create pressure on women with AUFI.
Participants strongly believed that the choice to pursue uterus transplantation was personal and should not be judged by others, especially those who do not have problems with infertility. One commented: “It makes me crazy because they [people without AUFI] are not us. They cannot put themselves in our shoes for a second because they don’t understand and they won’t fully ever comprehend what it’s like to have infertility like we do.” (UTR03_GF)
Participants also felt that the option of uterus transplantation did not pressure them to pursue this course. If anything, they felt that there was more pressure to pursue the alternative option of adoption. One participant described her frustration with the question of why she did not opt for adoption as follows:
I’m like, why don’t you adopt? …What makes my situation different from yours? The same children need a home and the same children are out there. There’s a bigger pressure, bigger stigma [to UTx] because of adoption. (UTR05_GF)