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posted by martyb on Monday November 06 2017, @02:24PM   Printer-friendly
from the "tomorrow"-give-or-take-nine-months dept.

Richard Paulson, President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, has said that transgender women could give birth as soon as "tomorrow" using donated wombs:

Those born with male assigned sex organs cannot conceive children biologically; however, this may soon change, at least according to one fertility expert. Transgender women—those who were assigned male at birth—could give birth as early as "tomorrow," Richard Paulson, an obstetrician-gynecologist and the president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said, according to The Telegraph. Thanks to advances in transgender medicine, donated wombs may be able to help transgender women conceive on their own, Paulson said during the society's annual conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Since at least 1999, transgender men have successfully given birth to healthy children, The Washington Post [archive] reports. More recently, Trystan Reese, a transgender man and his partner Biff Chaplow, gave birth to a healthy child last August. Despite their successes, the process is much more complex for transgender women. Primarily because a man's pelvis is a different shape than a woman's, making the birth much more complicated. Still, Paulson insists that it's possible, but notes the birth must be conducted via cesarean section.

"There would be additional challenges, but I don't see any obvious problem that would preclude it," Paulson said. "I personally suspect there are going to be trans women who are going to want to have a uterus and will likely get the transplant."

Only eight children have been born worldwide to mothers (born female) who had a uterine transplant, with the first such birth occurring in 2014. As we have reported, the first attempted uterine transplant in the U.S. failed last year.

Here's a 2016 article on the topic at Scientific American, which notes that surrogacy (which can have its own problems) is illegal in some countries. The article raises the question of unnecessary risks to the patient, as well as unknown risks posed to the fetus by a "potentially unstable biological environment" modulated by hormone treatments.

Not mentioned: the prospect of creating an artificial embryo using the DNA of two biological men, which is expected to be possible imminently (predicted by researchers two years ago to be available in 2017). Since men have both an X and Y sex chromosome, they should be able to have either a son or a daughter using such a technique.

If an artificial womb is developed in the future and it has a lesser chance of causing complications than a traditional pregnancy, would it be unethical for a woman to conceive a child naturally? Fetal lambs have been grown for up to four weeks in an artificial womb, so we may get an answer in the coming decades.

Also at the Sacremento Bee.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @04:10PM (28 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @04:10PM (#593134)

    I made no moral judgement - I simply drew a parallel.

    If someone is willing to undergo a transplant and pay for the opportunity to have their own genetic child, then you are in favor?

  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday November 06 2017, @04:19PM (27 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday November 06 2017, @04:19PM (#593142) Journal

    "People that choose to give birth are also placing their ego above the welfare of all the orphan children"

    It certainly looks like a moral judgement to me.

    I won't bullshit you about my own moral judgements. I view this whole charade as an exercise in faggotry.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @04:45PM (26 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @04:45PM (#593157)

      It certainly looks like a moral judgement to me.

      Only if you believe that it is morally unacceptable to place higher value on your ego (desire to pass on your genetics) over that of orphan children.

      I made no such assertion and, in fact, do not believe it is immoral. I might consider it a greater moral good, similar to how you described a "kindness" of the heart, to provide for someone else's genetic offspring but certainly not a moral obligation.

      In your terms, is it more moral to be a participant in cuckoldry or faggotry?
      Is it acceptable for those who want to have biological children, but are unable to do so without medical intervention, to go through extraordinary measures to do so rather than adopting?

      • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday November 06 2017, @05:11PM (25 children)

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday November 06 2017, @05:11PM (#593167) Journal

        You need do nothing actively "wrong" to be cuckolded. Faggotry requires active participation.

        • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @05:37PM (8 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @05:37PM (#593184)

          Do you have a moral argument for why faggotry is wrong?

          I've never heard any compelling arguments. Unfortunately, intelligent people who believe it is wrong typically only do so because of religion and, thus, their arguments rely on the premise that their religion is true (which I don't accept).

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 07 2017, @04:59AM (7 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 07 2017, @04:59AM (#593482)

            Sure, pretend like the basic facts of biology are just religious arguments. People make mistakes all the time. Some guy's ass is the wrong hole to fuck. Faggotry is wrong like trying to plug a male connector into a male port is wrong.

            • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 07 2017, @02:33PM (6 children)

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 07 2017, @02:33PM (#593646)

              The morality of "the wrong hole to fuck" is not a basic fact of biology. Some reasons why the "unnatural" argument is not compelling are:
              Homosexuality is observed in nature.
              It would be a joke to assert that humans should follow some "natural" standard when participating in a modern human society bears so little resemblance to any "natural" setting.
              Evolution is a process that has no will, intentions, or personality and, therefore, has no moral concerns and species with greater variability typically have a more rubust survival rate.

              • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday November 07 2017, @04:16PM (5 children)

                by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 07 2017, @04:16PM (#593694) Journal

                "Homosexuality is observed in nature."

                You justify your actions with the fact that the beasts of the field to it. So - it's alright for you to attack your parents, when they grow old and weak, and eat them.

                • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday November 07 2017, @07:19PM (4 children)

                  by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday November 07 2017, @07:19PM (#593773) Journal

                  It seems it's only male homosexuality you take issue with. I'm guessing you'd have less trouble watching, for example, me and my girlfriend making love, not that we'd ever let you.

                  This reveals several things, one of which is your incredibly male-centric idea of sexuality, to the point that it's borderline solipsistic. If you have a wife or a girlfriend I pity her intensely. Another, IMO, is an obvious undercurrent of homosexual urges in your own case.

                  A third is an extremely shallow set of morals and almost complete lack of moral thought. Empathy is also found in nature, in "the beasts of the field." We are animals, at least in the flesh, whether you like it or not. Does that mean a thing is good or bad solely because it exists in nature or does not? No, of course not. What the AC above you was saying isn't "there are gay animals therefore it's fine, QED," they're saying "Don't act like this is something humans invented or some deliberate, thought-out perversion of human nature."

                  You are a particularly shallow thinker and getting worse by the day; the last 4-6 months in particular are making me suspect you're either suffering something in your personal life that's affecting your thought processes or may actually have early-onset dementia.

                  --
                  I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                  • (Score: 1, Redundant) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:14AM (3 children)

                    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:14AM (#593941) Journal

                    And, once again, 'Zumi tosses out her ages old presumption that I am interested in her.

                    When will you learn, girl? There are a lot of fish in the ocean. I'm not much interested in crustaceans. And, you're not an interesting crustacean. No, I'm not coming over to watch the mating habits of - whatever it is you call yourself.

                    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday November 08 2017, @05:09AM (2 children)

                      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday November 08 2017, @05:09AM (#593965) Journal

                      Way to miss the point again. This deflection of yours fools no one; based on your responses thus far it is now patently obvious you're at least bisexual and have been fighting a lifelong battle with yourself over it. Else why would you be getting so completely autistic-screeching upset over it? Seriously, I'm beginning to wonder if you actually WILL have apoplexy if I keep poking you and am debating simply ignoring you so as not to have your blood (or whatever that cholesterol-laden alcoholic sludge is...) on my hands.

                      --
                      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                      • (Score: 1, Redundant) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 08 2017, @02:48PM (1 child)

                        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 08 2017, @02:48PM (#594061) Journal

                        Some shit is definitely beneath any man's dignity to even mess with. You've heard those loaded questions, such as "Is mine the sweetest peter you've ever tasted?" We simply aren't going into my sex life, no matter how curious you are, no matter how many times you ask.

                        Listen to the lyrics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T3g_DruhMc [youtube.com]

                        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:15PM

                          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:15PM (#594078) Journal

                          Runaway confirmed for self-loathing bi/homosexual. I mean, you were before, but this is basically a giant flashing neon sign saying "CLOSET CASE" in giant 144pt Comic Sans...

                          --
                          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
        • (Score: 2, Troll) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday November 06 2017, @05:41PM (15 children)

          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday November 06 2017, @05:41PM (#593188) Journal

          Anyone getting this worked up over the idea has some experience, riiiiight? I mean, no one in their right mind would adopt you, but maybe you're insecure about your lust for other men...?

          --
          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
          • (Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Monday November 06 2017, @06:21PM (14 children)

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday November 06 2017, @06:21PM (#593215) Journal

            'Zumi, no need to go around with this again. You can't adopt me, and there is no point being bitter about it.

            • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @07:15PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 06 2017, @07:15PM (#593257)

              The only reason for you to have the personality you do is a massive insecurity complex. Just admit you're at the least bisexual.

            • (Score: 2, Troll) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday November 06 2017, @08:26PM (12 children)

              by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday November 06 2017, @08:26PM (#593287) Journal

              I could, I'd just need to fill out some state and federal forms about owning dangerous wildlife, and get one hell of a big terrarium :D Oh, and proper heat-lighting: do you like near or far infrared?

              --
              I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
              • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday November 07 2017, @04:18PM (11 children)

                by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 07 2017, @04:18PM (#593696) Journal

                If you'll just take that infrared light out near Pluto, and hang it, it will be far enough to me. By the time you get back, I'll be safely in my grave.

                • (Score: 2, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday November 07 2017, @05:44PM (10 children)

                  by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday November 07 2017, @05:44PM (#593741) Journal

                  By the time I get back you won't need the heat lamp, since it'll be plenty hot where you're going :D

                  --
                  I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday November 07 2017, @05:57PM (9 children)

                    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 07 2017, @05:57PM (#593743) Journal

                    Thought you didn't believe in that shit any more.

                    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday November 07 2017, @06:07PM (8 children)

                      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday November 07 2017, @06:07PM (#593749) Journal

                      You're not paying attention, are you? Hell is real. That is to say, there are as many Hells as there are people in them, and they last exactly as long and are exactly as horrible as they need to be. Most people in them have no idea what's happening to them and interpret it as something like whatever their dominant cultural paradigm's version of afterlife punishment says it is; what's really happening is a sort of karmic rebound.

                      --
                      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                      • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:16AM (7 children)

                        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:16AM (#593942) Journal

                        So, kinda like Dante's Enferno? Cool. Have fun when you get there.

                        • (Score: 2, Troll) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday November 08 2017, @05:05AM (6 children)

                          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday November 08 2017, @05:05AM (#593964) Journal

                          You can't even spell "Inferno" right, you dumb illiterate bastard. And it'll only be like that for you since you've been raised nominally Christian; I am probably not going to end up spending time in or below the "third sphere" based on my life thus far.

                          --
                          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                          • (Score: 1, Troll) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 08 2017, @02:57PM (5 children)

                            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 08 2017, @02:57PM (#594066) Journal

                            So, now she resorts to cursing . . . she's lost it.

                            • (Score: 2, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:12PM (4 children)

                              by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:12PM (#594077) Journal

                              Unless you are in elementary school--and, let's face it, this is a distinct possibility given your mental capabilities--"bastard" isn't a curse. It's a perfectly cromulent word when describing, for example, large swords, low-value pearls, and petulant manchildren who can't hold their own on the internet because they're consumed by rage, self-loathing, and probably impotence as well :D

                              --
                              I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                              • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:29PM (3 children)

                                by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 08 2017, @03:29PM (#594087) Journal

                                Self loathing is the province of liberal white people. Try to get your descriptors right.

                                • (Score: 2, Funny) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday November 09 2017, @03:51AM (2 children)

                                  by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday November 09 2017, @03:51AM (#594408) Journal

                                  Keep tellin' yourself that, Runaway. It's obvious you wanna smoke more pole than an arsonist in a strip club.

                                  --
                                  I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                                  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday November 09 2017, @03:41PM (1 child)

                                    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Thursday November 09 2017, @03:41PM (#594646) Journal

                                    Let us remember which of us is "broken". You are fascinated with your fantasies of my anatomy, and you're fishing for some potential connection between us. Nope, we ain't hookin' up, under any circumstances. We aren't going to share tales of smoking poles, or whatever. The only thing that you and I have in common is, we like pussy. Run along, now, and apologize to your special other for hitting on me, repeatedly.

                                    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday November 09 2017, @06:33PM

                                      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday November 09 2017, @06:33PM (#594751) Journal

                                      I think I might have to actually start trolling you for real :) I didn't even read that post, just hit reply. If anyone can get a rise out of you this easily maybe it was meant to be. And man, are you easy to upset.

                                      --
                                      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...