Pregnancy achieved in ovary transplant

ST. LOUIS, Ala., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- An Alabama woman has become the first ever to become pregnant with an ovary transplanted from her twin sister, the Mirror reported Wednesday.

Stephanie Yarber, 25, had all but given up on having children. She went through menopause at the age of 13, and in-vitro fertilization failed twice. But the Muscle Shoals woman heard of pioneering fertility specialist Dr. Sherman Silber at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, Ala., and contacted him.

He said her twin sister Melanie would be an ideal transplant candidate because of the minimal risk of tissue rejection. The $15,000 operation was not covered by medical insurance, so the couple re-mortgaged their house and borrowed from relatives.

The transplant surgery was done in July, and by August, Yarber had her first menstrual period in 12 years.

She is now four weeks pregnant, and ecstatic, saying, "I even love morning sickness," the newspaper said.