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[GK86]

Science!

Scientists announced today that four women received lab-grown vaginas between 2005 and 2008 — and, according to their doctors, all of the patients are doing quite well.

The women, who were between 13 and 18 at the time of the surgery, were all born with a rare genetic condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) — a condition that causes about one in 4,500 girls to be born with either an underdeveloped or absent vagina and uterus. The traditional treatment for women with MRKH involves reconstructive surgery or painful dilation procedures. These interventions can be quite traumatic — they have a complication rate of 75 percent in pediatric patients — so researchers wanted to find a way to avoid them altogether. That's why they set out to engineer vaginas, described in a study published in The Lancet today, that would be compatible with each patient.

The vaginal organs themselves were generated using a combination of cells — epithelial cells that line body cavities, as well as muscle cells — biopsied from the women's genital areas. Anthony Atala, a urologist at Wake Forest University who conducted the trials, said in a video interview that his team took "a very small piece of tissue from the patient, less than half the size of a postage stamp, and we then teased the cells apart and grew the cells separately." The cells were then expanded and sewn onto a biodegradable scaffold that the researchers had previously shaped into a vagina tailored to each patient. Six weeks later, the women underwent surgery.

To implant the lab-grown vaginas, surgeons first had to create a canal in the women's pelvic areas. The surgeons then sutured the biodegradable scaffold to the patients' already existing reproductive structures. In the weeks following the operation, the women's nerves and blood vessels gradually expanded and started integrating themselves into the engineered tissue. As this was happening, the women's bodies were slowly absorbing the scaffolding. By the time the scaffolding had completely disappeared, it was no longer needed — the cells had laid down their own permanent support structure.

Follow-up tests showed that the engineered tissue was indistinguishable from the women's native tissue. "We now show up to an 8-year follow-up with those organs showing functionality," Atala said. By "functionality," he means that the women are now able to experience sexual desire, pain-free sex, and can even reach orgasm. This operation, however, will not allow them to bear children.

Atala and his team used the same technique in 1998 to implant engineered bladders in nine children. Since then, he has also been able to implant urethras in young boys. "It was unbelievable that it could be done a lab," said one of the women who received the treatment in a video interview. The woman, whose name has not been released, said that she hopes other girls with MRKH will hear about the treatment. "[Life] does not end knowing that you have the disease," she said, "because there is a treatment and you can have a normal life."

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Those organ scaffolds are opening up so many possibilities.

 

[Snaku]

Potential SRS applications I imagine, yes?

 

[KillerMan91]

Can't wait for new Fleshlights.

 

[SwiftDeath]

Wow that's a terrible disease/condition. Good to hear they appear to be doing well with their implants

 

[mclem]

So, we're dealing with an effectively cloned feminine reproductive organ?

I christen it the banda-snatch.

 

[TangoAlphaLima]

EDIT: Beaten.

 

[Shanlei91]

"We now show up to an 8-year follow-up with those organs showing functionality," Atala said. By "functionality," he means that the women are now able to experience sexual desire, pain-free sex, and can even reach orgasm

So they're superior now.

 

[Chance Hale]

Would love to see a video demonstration of how they grow the cells. Neat though, good for them!

 

[UrokeJoe]

Custom fit please.

 

[Sayter]

If Nintendo could attach one to each Wii U they just may have another success on their hands.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

Big fan of this "growing cells into body parts" thing we've got going on.

 

[CountAntonius]

Tight.

 

[Borgnine]

Could this tech be used to create designer vaginas, or Designas™ which I've just copyrighted with this post?

 

[Broder Salsa]

But can you grow a dick?

 

[kick51]

i cunt believe it

 

[Ferrio]

I'm not the only one who wants to see pictures am I?

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Science, fuck yeah.

 

[SwiftDeath]

Big fan of this "growing cells into body parts" thing we've got going on.

California Condor wings, on my back. Make it happen science

 

[Ultima_5]

So when we gonna get bigger dicks?

C'mon science

 

[triplestation]

PREORDERED!

im gonna name mine natalie

 

[maniac-kun]

Could they attach one to my hand?

 

[ItIsOkBro]

I'm not the only one who wants to see pictures am I?

I personally am waiting for the which is real which is lab-grown quiz.

 

[GK86]

I'm not the only one who wants to see pictures am I?

Hopefully it doesn't get me banned.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

Are they making penises too?

 

[Herr K]

Can I order one for recreational purposes?

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

But can you grow a dick?

maybe when science grows a pair

 

[edmuretully]

I WILL FINALLY LOSE MY VIRGINITY TO A REAL VAGINA

 

[sphagnum]

Born with an absent vagina? Did they just look like barbie dolls down there?

Wonder how applicable this will be for transwomen.

 

[Ferrio]

I personally am waiting for the which is real which is lab-grown quiz.

HAS SCIENCE GONE TOO FAR?

 

[HuskerDutheDu]

niiiiiiiice

 

[The Librarian]

That's awesome. So happy for those women!

 

[Angelus Errare]

There's a B.o.B can of pussy skit that seems apt.

 

[triplestation]

if you dont have a vagina do you pee from your ass

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

science tho

 

[Blair]

Yo i got something to implant in these four wo-

who were between 13 and 18

ehem, good for them!

 

[KaiserBecks]

What? We have the ability to grow vaginas now and all those scientists do is put them into women? Who needs women when we can grow vaginas?

 

[Malreyn]

Getting these "lab grown organs" to replicate the same nerves and feelings as a normal one sounds amazing...I mean I know they've grown organ parts in labs but I thought of them as more functional and structural, but to get the nerves to attach and send a signal to the brain from something that wasn't there before? That's incredible

 

[charsace]

 

[ffdgh]

...Fascinating.

 

[bobbychalkers]

There's a B.o.B can of pussy skit that seems apt.

Ima need me some of that African Bam Bam BAM!

 

[Rentahamster]

I'll take 3.

 

[agrajag]

when are lab vaginas going to be available for recreational purposes?

 

[Byakuya769]

I didn't expect the end result to be so functional. Really great work and I couldn't imagine how the recipients feel after turning the surgery.

 

[Devolution]

Born with an absent vagina? Did they just look like barbie dolls down there?

Wonder how applicable this will be for transwomen.

No.They have normal genitalia but the vagina is not a full cavity that connects with the ovaries and the uterus is absent. This procedure was so successful because they have all the surrounding structures just not a fully developed cavity. They find out about the problem due to lack of menstruation.

 

[terrisus]

So, how long until someone starts creating them to sell to guys to put on dolls or whatnot?

 

[Anastasia]

This is amazing. For SRS, I assume they would just remove the penis entirely, since it wouldn't be needed for the canal (instead of inverting it), and that extra tissue could then go toward the aesthetic side of things? Also maybe no need for long term dilation, if the vagina gets absorbed into the body.

Either way, sign me up.

 

[Coconut]

Soon we won't even need to put them into women.

 

[freenudemacusers]

Yo i got something to implant in these four wo- ehem, good for them!

just take them to spain, i read on neogaf that 13 is a-ok

 

[Zelias]

The potential for SRS certainly is interesting.