Canada's first uterine transposition surgery performed at Montreal hospital

The McGill University Health Centre has performed Canada's first uterine transposition procedure, offering a fertility-preservation option for women undergoing pelvic radiation therapy for cancer.

The surgery, developed and performed by gynecologic oncologist Dr. Reitan Ribeiro, involves moving the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes into the upper abdomen during an initial surgical procedure to protect them from the radiation field. Once radiation treatment is complete, the reproductive organs are returned to their original location during a second procedure.

The technique offers hope to women with colorectal and other pelvic cancers who wish to retain the ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term after remission while reducing the risk of early menopause. The surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques, allowing for rapid recovery without delaying the start of cancer treatment.

"With the rising incidence of cancer among young women and the trend toward later motherhood, it is becoming essential to consider not only cancer treatment but also patients' quality of life and future plans," Ribeiro said.

Britany Fecteau, 28, became the first Canadian patient to undergo the procedure. She was treated at the MUHC for Hodgkin's lymphoma in the groin, with her first surgery on February 26, 2026, and the second on April 29, 2026, one month after completing radiation therapy.

"Receiving a cancer diagnosis at my age was a tremendous shock. Learning that the treatments could also cause me to lose my fertility and put me into early menopause was just as shocking. This surgery allowed me to preserve my ovaries and uterus before radiation therapy, and that means the world to me," Fecteau said.