Stephen Wilkinson – The Conversation

Costs and who will get access to the treatment are key questions that will need to be answered. Antonio Marca/ Shutterstock

April 15, 2025

First UK birth after womb transplant is a medical breakthrough – but raises important ethical questions

Laura O'Donovan, University of Sheffield; Nicola J. Williams, Lancaster University, and Stephen Wilkinson, Lancaster University

This latest breakthrough provides hope for the estimated 15,000 UK women who have uterine factor infertility.

Artificial womb technology could eventually make it possible to grow a foetus from conception to “birth” wholly outside the human body. Marko Aliaksandr/ Shutterstock

December 1, 2023

Artificial wombs could someday be a reality – here’s how they may change our notions of parenthood

Stephen Wilkinson, Lancaster University; Nicola J. Williams, Lancaster University, and Sara Fovargue, University of Sheffield

Artificial wombs could drastically change how the decision to become a parent fits into many people’s lives.

Shutterstock

December 4, 2015

Should the NHS pay for womb transplants?

Stephen Wilkinson, Lancaster University and Nicola J. Williams, Lancaster University

Fertility treatments might be designed to improve rather than save lives but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be publicly funded.

Mitochondrial replacement is different to changing DNA. Babies by Shutterstock

February 4, 2015

Decision to allow ‘three‑person IVF’ should be welcomed

Stephen Wilkinson, Lancaster University

The decision by British MPs to allow the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to license mitochondrial replacement therapies, popularly known as “three-parent” or “three-person” IVF, should be…

Three person IVF will prevent mitochondrial disease. Sukharevskyy Dmytro/Shutterstock

August 4, 2014

The ethics of three‑person IVF

Stephen Wilkinson, Lancaster University

The UK parliament will soon consider making Britain the first country to allow three-person IVF. The regulations are yet to be approved, but the government is currently backing moves to allow the creation…

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