An artificial uterus or artificial womb is a device that would allow for extracorporeal pregnancy by growing a fetus outside the body of an organism that would normally carry the fetus to term. An artificial uterus, as a replacement organ, would have many applications.

Are there artificial wombs?

The researchers have built artificial wombs that can support lambs that are developmentally equivalent to a 24-week-old human fetus. (There are no artificial womb studies involving human fetuses.)

How much does it cost to have a baby in an artificial womb?

Medical reports have already shown racial and ethnic disparities in infertility treatments and access to assisted reproductive technologies. Costs on average total $12,400 per cycle of treatment and may require several cycles to achieve a live birth.