text: In April 2014, a team of scientists led by Anthony Atala reported that they had successfully transplanted laboratory-grown vaginas into four female teenaged girls with a rare medical condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome that causes the vagina to develop improperly, or sometimes not at all.  Between 1 of 1,500 to 4,000 females are born with this condition.
  The four patients began treatment between May 2005 and August 2008.  In each case, the medical research team began by taking a small sample of genital tissue from the teenagers vulva.  The sample was used as a seed to grow additional tissue in the lab which was then placed in a vaginal shaped, biodegradable mold.  Vaginal-lining cells were placed on the inside of the tube, while muscle cells were attached to the outside.  Five to six weeks later, the structure was implanted into the patients, where the tissue continued to grow and connected with the girls circulatory and other bodily systems.  After about eight years, all four patients reported normal function and pleasure levels during sexual intercourse according to the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire, a validated self-report tool.  No adverse results or complications were reported.
  In two of the four women, the vagina was attached to the uterus, making pregnancy possible.  No pregnancies were reported, however, during the study period.  Martin Birchall, who works on tissue engineering, but was not involved in the study, said it "addressed some of the most important questions facing translation of tissue engineering technologies."  Commentary published by the National Health Service (NHS) called the study "an important proof of concept" and said it showed that tissue engineering had "a great deal of potential."  However, the NHS also cautioned that the sample size was very small and further research was necessary to determine the general viability of the technique.
  The laboratory-grown autologous  transplant technique could also be used on women who want reconstructive surgery due to cancer or other disease once the technique is perfected.  However, more studies will need to be conducted and the techniques further developed before commercial production can begin.