Scientists Keep Human Uterus Alive Outside the Body

Spain has successfully kept a human uterus alive outside the body for 24 hours, opening new possibilities for studying fertility, pregnancy and uterine diseases.

“You have to start somewhere,” said Carlos Simon, founder of the Carlos Simón Foundation, reflecting the early but significant step toward understanding human reproduction in unprecedented detail.

The breakthrough uses a perfusion system that pumps oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood through the organ, mimicking the functions of the heart, lungs and kidneys to sustain it outside the body. Researchers aim to extend survival to around 28 days to observe a full menstrual cycle and study conditions such as endometriosis and implantation failure, a major factor in unsuccessful IVF treatments. The technique builds on advances already used in liver, kidney and heart transplants, where machine perfusion can extend organ viability beyond a few hours. If further developed, the approach could expand transplant options, improve fertility treatments, and deepen scientific understanding of early pregnancy, with long-term potential to support entirely new reproductive technologies.