Psychological Assessment and Motivations of Potential Donors Within the First Australian Uterine Transplant Trial

Objective: This study aims to investigate the psychological characteristics, motivations and experiences of potential living donors assessed for the first uterus transplant (UTx) clinical trial in Australia.

Design: Mixed methods study.

Setting: Tertiary hospital.

Patient(s): Seven female potential UTx donors.

Intervention(s): A mixed-methods design was used to evaluate seven self-referred potential uterus donors for the UTx program. Potential donors underwent rigorous clinical and psychological screening, including self-reported psychological assessments. Additionally, five potential donors participated in semi-structured interviews conducted by the study social worker.

Main outcome measure(s): Scores from measures of quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress, along with thematic analysis from semi-structured interviews.

Result(s): Thematic analysis identified six key themes: feelings about donating a uterus, health history, informed consent, impact of donation, relationships, and access to educational resources. Several sub-themes were also identified, including awareness of surgical complications and dynamics of relationships and sexuality. Quantitative results indicated clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in some donors. Overall, the quality-of-life scores of the donors were comparable to those of the general Australian female population.

Conclusion(s): The study provides a deeper understanding of the psychological profiles and motivations of potential UTx donors in Australia. It reveals the complexity of donor motivations, which include altruistic desires to help others experience pregnancy, and practical considerations. The findings emphasise the need for rigorous psychological screening and continuous support to address potential mental health challenges. These insights are valuable for developing future UTx protocols and support systems to ensure donor wellbeing.