In a landmark achievement for reproductive medicine in India, a 12‑member surgical team at Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute, Pune, led by Dr. Shailesh Puntambekar, performed the country’s first successful womb (uterus) transplant. Using a novel laparoscopic retrieval of the donor uterus and subsequent open transplant, the procedure was successfully performed on a 21‑year‑old woman from Solapur, born without a uterus .

The surgery began around 9 a.m. and concluded after nearly 9 to 12 hours, with both donor (the patient’s mother) and recipient reported as stable in post-operative care Innovative technique: Approximately 80% of the uterus retrieval was done via keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery, significantly reducing donor trauma and eliminating the need for blood transfusion.

• Precision transplant: The uterus was then delicately fitted into the recipient, with detailed vascular reconnections to ensure blood flow.
• Post-op monitoring: Early assessments showed normal blood flow in the transplanted organ, with the patient scheduled for intensive follow-up .

• This revolutionary operation made Pune the first city in India—and among the earliest globally—to pioneer a laparoscopically assisted womb transplant.
• The transplant provides a new path to motherhood for women with uterine factor infertility—offering an alternative to adoption or surrogacy
• It follows the world’s initial success in Sweden (2014), underlining India’s place in advanced reproductive healthcare. Embryo transfer is slated following confirmation of uterus viability, as noted during post-op monitoring.

• A second transplant occurred on May 19, 2017, for a 24-year-old patient from Baroda—also successful.
• Later, October 2018 marked a new high: the first live birth following the Pune transplant, making the mother the Asia’s first in this feat. Dr. Shailesh Puntambekar, Medical Director of Galaxy Care, described the transplant as “technically very tough” but called its success “a new gateway to motherhood for women born without a uterus” .

This revolutionary surgery places Pune at the forefront of global reproductive medicine and offers newfound hope to women across the country. Stay tuned for updates on embryo transfer and baby milestones later this year.