A woman born without a uterus has defied the odds by giving birth to a baby girl in June following Singapore\u2019s first uterus transplant<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marishelle Krygsman, 33, was the first woman in Singapore to undergo a living-donor uterus transplant. She is also the first woman born without a uterus in Southeast Asia to successfully give birth.<\/p>\n She and her husband, Alexander Krygsman, 36, spoke to Lianhe Zaobao about their five-year journey to parenthood<\/a>, which culminated in what they described as a medical miracle.<\/p>\n \u201cWe finally made it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n When Marishelle was 18, she sought medical attention after she did not start menstruating.<\/p>\n She was subsequently diagnosed with MRKH syndrome (Mayer-Rokitansky-K\u00fcster-Hauser syndrome), a condition in which women are born without a uterus and are unable to become pregnant and give birth naturally.<\/p>\n Marishelle said that not having a uterus had never made her feel \u201cincomplete\u201d or \u201cless of a woman\u201d. Fortunately, both her ovaries were functioning normally.<\/p>\n She later met Alexander and told him that she was unable to have children.<\/p>\n Alexander said: \u201cBecause I loved her, I could accept everything about her. But when we started discussing starting a family, we still wanted to find out whether there was anything that could be done. So we saw a gynaecologist, who confirmed that we could not conceive naturally.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple considered adoption for some time, but eventually decided to accept the possibility that they might not be able to have children.<\/p>\n \u201cWe both love travelling, so we decided to enjoy life and travel overseas often. We also got a little dog,\u201d said Marishelle.<\/p>\n Their fortunes changed in 2021, when Marishelle joined a support group for people with MRKH syndrome in Singapore.<\/p>\n Someone in the group shared a recruitment poster for a uterus transplant clinical trial led by Professor Tan Hak Koon, a senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Singapore General Hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n A uterus transplant can give women with the condition the opportunity to carry a pregnancy.<\/p>\n While Singapore\u2019s medical scene is still new to uterus transplantation, Sweden is a pioneer. In 2014, a Swedish medical team delivered the world\u2019s first baby born following a successful living-donor uterus transplant, marking a major milestone in medical history.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was very excited when we saw it. We all said we wanted to take part, and in the end, we actually all signed up,\u201d Marishelle said.<\/p>\n However, the clinical trial had extremely stringent requirements. Participants had to be physically and mentally healthy and find a uterus donor with a compatible blood type themselves.<\/p>\n Marishelle recalled that she and her mother had different blood types and that she only has a younger brother.<\/p>\n She was fortunate, however, when a female relative heard about her situation and agreed to become a donor, as she had already planned to undergo a hysterectomy.<\/p>\n She was diagnosed with MRKH syndrome.<\/p>\n PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO INTERVIEWEE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n To ensure she was physically fit enough to withstand the highly complex and high-risk surgery, Marishelle underwent two years of intensive medical examinations, along with interviews and stringent assessments by the organ transplant ethics committee and other parties.<\/p>\n She said the entire process was \u201cextremely difficult\u201d, as she had to go through tests almost every week and sat through countless interviews.<\/p>\n \u201cI also fully understood that even if the transplant was successful, IVF<\/a> might not necessarily work. But I was very determined and never thought about giving up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n A subsequent research report on Singapore\u2019s first uterus transplant revealed that the operation was performed at Singapore General Hospital on Nov 25, 2023.<\/p>\n The Singapore Medical Council granted a special temporary licence for three uterus transplant specialists from the Swedish team to fly to Singapore and assist with the surgery.<\/p>\n According to the report, the donor\u2019s surgery lasted 10 hours and 30 minutes, while the simultaneous surgery on the recipient lasted six hours and 20 minutes.<\/p>\n Following the transplant, Marishelle had to take long-term medication to prevent organ rejection and infection.<\/p>\n On New Year\u2019s Day in 2024, she experienced her first menstrual period \u2014 a sign that the transplanted uterus was functioning normally.<\/p>\n In November 2025, she successfully underwent IVF.<\/p>\n However, because a transplanted uterus carries a higher risk of premature delivery, she had to spend much of her pregnancy<\/a> on bed rest to protect the baby.<\/p>\n In November 2025, she successfully underwent IVF.<\/p>\n PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO INTERVIEWEE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Eventually, at around seven months into her pregnancy, baby girl Sophie was delivered by Caesarean section.<\/p>\n Throughout their long journey to parenthood, Alexander remained Marishelle\u2019s strongest source of emotional support. From caring for her after the surgery to taking on his new role as a father, he has been by her side every step of the way.<\/p>\n While Marishelle was deeply grateful to Professor Tan, she also wanted to give herself some credit.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to pat myself on the shoulder because we finally made it through. Over these four years, we have experienced so many ups and downs, physically, mentally and emotionally.<\/p>\n \u201cTo finally hold Sophie in my arms and become a mother \u2014 that feeling is truly beyond words,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>
She was born without a uterus<\/h2>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRecruitment poster changed their lives<\/h2>\n
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Underwent 2 years of intensive medical examinations<\/h2>\n
Getting her first period at 31 years old<\/h2>\n
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