When Pretty Friends Make You Feel Ugly

Last week I reported on a study about body image and how a woman's impression of her looks is most heavily influenced by what others thinks — not what she thinks. Of course, 0nce we get past caring about other people's impressions, most of us have an opinion on our own looks, too. But our beauty compass is still largely defined by how we judge others.

Body Image: Do Ads Make You Feel Better Or Worse About Your Looks?

Be honest, if you're surrounded by a group of gorgeous women, aren't you more likely to feel inferior or insecure about how you look? It's like all of a sudden there is pressure to up the ante and pull out our sexiest attire and spend more time in the mirror than necessary when you know you're going to be around other women who have done the same. On the flip side, when you're with a more down-to-earth, no-fuss crowd, you tend to be more relaxed about your looks, right?

Psychologist Carlin Flora explains:

"Psychologists call it the 'contrast effect': You feel prettier around ugly people and uglier around pretty people. These social comparisons happen not only when you deliberately scrutinize passersby, but constantly and automatically."

To prove this, in one study researchers gave people a subliminal glimpse of an attractive female face. Those people subsequently rated themselves as less attractive than those who saw a homely face, even though no one remembered having seen the images in the first place. Our self-image is built on these comparisons all day long.

Kinda reminds you of high school all over again when we were always looking to the "popular crowd" as a source of approval and how to dress, how to look and how to make-out with our boyfriends in the hall. (OK, maybe that was just me.) But it does bring up a good question: Why do we still base our own self-worth and self-beauty on others? Why do we feel so insecure that we have to compare ourselves to others?

Body Image: Is "Fat Talk Free" Really the Best Policy?

I will admit that I choose to hang out with women who are more of the athletic type. We can go straight from mountain biking to meeting for drinks and no one cares how dirty or smelly we are. But, when I'm around the oh-no-I-broke-a-nail type with her perfectly groomed outfit and perfectly coiffed fake blonde hair at our kids' swim meet, I try to steer clear. Not because she isn't a nice person (I assume she is), but as I stand there in my baseball cap with no makeup and the morning's running clothes still stuck on my sweaty body, I shrink, my shoulders slump, I don't stand as tall and I feel like I need to go home and take a shower (which I do) and primp.

What's interesting though is, feeling bad about our looks is all in our minds.

"We're not even close to objective when it comes to judging our own looks," Flora adds. "Other people see the whole package. But when we look in the mirror, we're liable to zero in on the imperfections. That bump on your friend's nose? It's her trademark! It gives her character! But to you, that thing on your nose is downright disfiguring. The good news: You're almost certainly hotter than you think. It's partly a matter of limited attention—everyone else is too fixated on his or her own appearance to be critical of yours."

Still, I don't open a Victoria's Secret catalog when I'm PMS-ing and having a bad hair day.

Running and Body Image: What Is a "Runner's Body" Anyway?

Tell us what you think. Do you feel ugly around people you think are prettier than you?

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Study: Anorexia Increases Death Risk

When it comes to dieting, many of us are at fault for going about it the wrong way. Unfortunately, many women – and men – are so consumed with trimming their waistline, they succumb to anorexia.

Anorexia is a condition in which a patient believes they are fat and deprives themselves of food; they may also exercise excessively.

While we know anorexia is harmful to one both physically and mentally, a new study now shows that a patient with anorexia has a five times greater chance of dying than someone without the eating disorder; in fact, one out of five deaths among anorexics were caused by suicide, while the rest were attributed to the effects the disorder had on the body over time – which can include heart disease or irregularities, dehydration and starvation, and anemia. People who suffer from bulimia or another non-specified eating disorder also are about twice as likely to die as people without those disorders, according to the study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. These diseases are known to be particularly dangerous for teenagers. The death rates for eating disorders, especially anorexia, are higher than those for schizophrenia and depression.

There are 10 warning signs of anorexia nervosa, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), Inc.:

1. Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss
2. Intense, persistent fear of gaining weight
3. Refusal to eat or highly restrictive eating
4. Continuous dieting
5. Excessive facial/body hair because of inadequate protein in the diet
6. Compulsive exercise
7. Abnormal weight loss
8. Sensitivity to cold
9. Absent or irregular menstruation
10. Hair loss

If you think a loved one is suffering from anorexia nervosa or a related eating disorder, there are many groups like ANAD and The National Eating Disorders Association waiting to help. The ANAD help line is 630-577-1330. Click here for more on this report and advice from an expert.

Related Advice for Healthy Living:

• Obesity Rates Still High Despite Numerous Weight-Loss Shows
• Fish and Whole Grains: What You Should Take Away From the Mediterranean Diet
• Dr. Pamela Peeke: Steer Clear of Weight-Loss Drugs
• Top 5 Tips for Forever Health with Ms. Fitness Greta Blackburn

For more daily expert updates, follow genConnect on Twitter and Facebook. To stay on top of genConnect experts' latest posts, as well as the latest contributions from other experts on the site:Sign Up for genConnect.

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America's Top 10 Youngest Cities

Can where you live make you younger? You bet! The cities that top RealAge's new Youngest Cities in America list have such healthy lifestyles that if you lived there, your body would think you're months or years (!) younger than your actual age. Did your city make the top 10 list?

America's top 10 youngest cities are:

1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, CA
3. Austin, TX
4. Denver, CO
5. Boston, MA
6. Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD
7. San Diego, CA
8. Raleigh-Durham/Chapel Hill, NC
9. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
10. Seattle/Tacoma/Bremerton, WA

Here's how they did it, and how you can too. Most residents in these metro areas who took the RealAge Test . . .

• Get their ZZZs. Sleeping 6 to 9 hours a night can make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger.
• Don't light up. Old-before-their-time cities have a high percentage of smokers (not you, right?).
• Don't sit on it. A daily 30-minute walk can make your RealAge up to 3.5 years younger.
• Keep their blood pressure low. Nothing ages you faster than high blood pressure.

America's top 10 old-before-your-time cities are:

1. Knoxville, TN
2. Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, NC
3. Nashville, TN
4. Saginaw/Bay City/Midland, MI
5. Cincinnati, OH
6. Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL
7. Oklahoma City, OK
8. Las Vegas, NV
9. Jacksonville, FL
10. Tulsa, OK

If you live in one of the 10 oldest cities, this is a heads-up to change your lifestyle. It's never too late for a fresh start.

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The Surprisingly Perfect Post-Workout Drink

Conde Nast Digital Studio

Sam Dean, Bon Appétit

When we were kids, chocolate milk was a pediatrician-approved "trick" Mom used to help us get our daily calcium. Those were the days. Now chocolate milk is majorly in the doghouse thanks to the childhood obesity epidemic (cue Jamie Oliver filling an entire school bus with metaphorical sugar), and schools in major cities like Los Angeles have banned it.

So we were happy to see our cocoa-flavored friend get a little good press recently: A nutritionist at the University of Texas at Austin recently found that low-fat chocolate milk is the ideal beverage for recovering between workouts. Nice.

According to Dr. John Ivy's research, the added sugar of the chocolate ups the milk's carb-to-protein ratio to 3:1, which lets the body benefit from exercise better than typical sports drinks, un-chocololated milk (that might not be the technical term), or plain water.

The study was paid for by the National Dairy Council, so take your carbs n' protein with a grain of salt, but Dr. Ivy is a well-respected name in the nutrition world.

Plus, we've been looking for an excuse to drink this stuff ever since that whole "kids need calcium" bit stopped working.

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Why Sexual Assaults on College Campuses Don't Lead To Arrests

Sexual assault  crimes against female students is alarmingly common. And taking steps to stop these occurrences and putting the criminals behind bars just isn't happening. Cosmo investigates why that is...

By Zoe Ruderman

Sexual violence on college campuses is not only incredibly widespread—roughly one in five women are the victims of completed or attempted rape while in college, according to the Department of Justice—but as a recent investigation discovered, academic institutions aren't doing enough to protect students and punish criminals. That's why Cosmo decided to take a stand and insist that schools treat sexual assault cases more seriously, by better supporting victims and taking a harder line against perpetrators. In our upcoming September issue, we'll tell you about a huge new campaign we're kicking off to fight sexual violence on campus and how you can get involved in the effort. In the meantime, read on to find out more about the terrifying issue—and the results of a revealing survey that will make you shudder.

A survey conducted by the Chicago Tribune found that of the sex crimes reported on college campuses in the past six years, only seven percent resulted in arrests and less than three percent resulted in convictions. That is well below the national average; about 25 percent of reported rapes result in arrests and about two-thirds of those arrests turn into convictions, according to the Tribune.

The newspaper looked at 171 cases that took place at a variety of Midwestern schools. Some of the schools they investigated, like Northwestern, had over 20 reports of sexual assault, but not a single arrest or conviction. Other colleges, such as Notre Dame, didn't have much better stats: they had 34 sex crimes and just four arrests and zero convictions. And Indiana University had a whopping 69 allegations of sexual violence and only one conviction.

Related: A New Kind of Date Rape

And according to Russlynn Ali, the assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education, this isn't just happening in the midwest. She told the Tribune, "These kinds of data are illustrative of the disturbing and alarming trend we are seeing across this country."

This comes on the heels of another scary revelation that some campuses may be neglecting to correctly and completely report sex crime statistics. A few weeks ago Yale University was found to have omitted certain "forcible sex offenses in its report of annual crime statistics when the crimes occurred". The university claims that the mistake has been corrected, but they still stand to lose federal funding for student aid because of the violation.

One theory as to why universities are under-reporting occurrences of sexual violence or not following up on them is that it makes their campuses seem unsafe to prospective students and their parents. Therefore, they fudge the numbers or try to handle the crimes internally rather than share the stats and risk making the school look unsafe and in turn, experiencing a decreased number of applicants.

Related: Your College Survival Guide

Part of what makes this phenomenon so dangerous is that it could discourage college women who are victims of assault on campus from going to the police. More than 95 percent of college rapes go unreported according to the Department of Justice. Kim Lonsway, the director of the non-profit group End Violence Against Women, told the Tribune: "Part of me wonders why someone would even bother making a report. What's the point in going to police if they don't do anything about it? It almost makes me feel worse."

The Department of Education is currently investigating the trend and we'll keep you updated on any news. And be sure to pick up the September issue later this summer to learn more about Cosmo's campaign to end campus violence.

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The Summer Shoe Threat-o-Meter

By Corrie Pikul

From safe shoes to Freddy Kruegers of footwear, a surgeon helps us saunter through summer without getting hurt or looking lame.

Related: Platform Sandals You Can Actually Walk In

Photo: Thinkstock

European Cork Sandals

Danger ranking: 2. "They feel wonderful for four to five hours of sitting or standing," says Hillary Brenner, DPM, a podiatric surgeon in New York. "But walking in these can put pressure on the ankles, knees and hips. Even though they have arch support, they don't have enough for long journeys."

Best for: Camp counseling; pointing out constellations in the night sky

Avoid: Hiking

Doctor's note: "Break them in by wearing them around your home so you know how they feel before you wear them outside."

RELATED: How to Look Chic and Slim All Summer Long

Photo: Thinkstock

Clogs

Danger ranking: 2. "These saved my life when I was a resident. But while they're great for standing, they're a little too unstable for distance walking."

Best for: Swaying at a mellow concert; preparing hors d'oeuvres for a party

Avoid: Sightseeing around Europe

Doctor's note: "If you're going to be doing a lot of walking, your best bet really is a pair of stylish athletic sneakers."

RELATED: 7 Bright and Sunny Looks to Try This Summer

Photo: Thinkstock

Wedges

Danger ranking: 3. "Wedges add height, and I personally feel more stable in wedges than in heels or platforms. The back of the shoe shouldn't be much higher than the front."

Best for: Getting around the office on "Summer Monday–Thursdays"; standing during a speech or a toast

Avoid: Rushing to catch a flight

Doctor's note: "Cork and raffia soles offer better shock absorption. Wood is very rigid, which can cause your foot to overcompensate. This can lead to instability and extra pressure on the knees and hips. With wooden sandals, look for a rubberized sole that helps with shock absorption."

RELATED: Oprah's 7 Style Revelations

Photo: Getty Images

Espadrilles

Danger ranking: 3. "A bit of a wedge is better than a completely flat espadrille because it offers a little more support. And the rope soles can provide more of a lift than thin ones. These are good for light activity—walking or standing in moderation—but not much more than that."

Best for: Family reunions; picnicking in the park

Avoid: Energetic frolicking (especially in the rain)

Doctor's note: "The fabric would be more comfortable for those with calluses and bunions that are irritated by leather straps and hardware."

RELATED: 10 Mistake Proof Items Every Woman Should Own

Photo: Thinkstock

Casual Flat Sandals

Danger ranking: 3. "Avoid sandals without arch support, straps that rub and cause blisters, cardboard-thin soles that don't offer any shock absorption and could eventually cause stress fractures. When we walk, we put two to three times the amount of body weight on our feet, so you need shoes that can absorb that shock."

Best for: Addressing individual quirks. "Thong-style sandals can be better for people with wider feet, calluses or bunions, as there's more room in the forefoot. The ankle strap of gladiator-style sandals could help slightly with stability, but these sandals often lack arch and heel support. To avoid blisters on the ankle or top of the foot caused by rubbing straps, keep those areas well moisturized."

Avoid: Running through amusement parks

Doctor's note: "Worishofer sandals were designed by a podiatrist, and the cork sole provides good shock absorption. Also check out MooShoes.com, a retailer that sells shoes made from vegan, cruelty-free materials, like faux leather and satin that tend to be softer on feet."

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Lose Weight, Have Better Sex, and 5 Other Ways Scents Can Rock Your World

By Laurel House

Some people consider themselves to be major "foodies." But have you ever heard someone say they are major "smellys?" May sound strange, but your sense of smell makes up about 70% of your experience of food. That's because the sense of smell is 10,000 times more accurate than the sense of taste.

 

Beyond enjoying your meals, your most basic behaviors—like feeding, fighting, even addiction and sexual pleasure—are triggered by certain smells. Smells have a lot of power over you. But don't feel helpless, you can use the power of smell to your advantage. If you know where to look (or what to smell) you can lower your stress levels, improve brain function and physical performance, relieve pain, even appear 6 years younger!

Take a whiff of these advantageous aromas.

Enliven Your Libido

Scent: Black Licorice

Next time you are in the mood to get randy, ask your guy to bring over some candy! A study conducted by Alan R. Hirsch, neurological director, Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, revealed that women who were exposed to the scent of black licorice reported a 13 percent increase the blood flow to the nether regions compared to a 1 percent reduction from the scent of men's cologne!

 

Energize Your Exercise

Scent: Peppermint

From treadmill with peppermint diffusing fans to athletes who use peppermint inhalers, even a sports bra designed by Reebok that smells of peppermint, clearly there is something to this refreshing scent! What's with these weird trends? One study found that college basketball players who sniffed peppermint vapors before a game had more energy, confidence, speed and motivation.

Maybe it's time you carry a candy cane in your sports bag!

Curb Your Appetite and Lose Weight

Scent: Your Favorite Scent

I know this one is vague, but it really can be whatever you like. Smelling a fragrance you love can help kill your cravings. And what happens when you don't give into how calorie cravings? You can lose weight. In one study, participants were given a banana, peppermint or green apple to sniff anything when hungry lost more weight than those who did not sniff during a snack attack. Take it one step further and create an entire scenario around that scent- smell that coconut, picture yourself on an island, sipping a fruity cocktail, feeling the gentle breeze from the palm trees… creating an entire experience in your mind has been proven to be even more effective at nipping those unnecessary cravings in the bud.

 

Look Younger

Scent: Pink Grapefruit

From age-defying hair styles to skinny jeans and wrinkle serums, there are tons of tricks out there that promise to instantly peel years off your looks- no exercise or plastic surgery required. But there's one trick that really does make you appear younger- even standing stark naked without any makeup; and that's grapefruit. A study conducted by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found that the scent of the pucker-provoking fruit can actually trick the male brain into believing that the women around them are six years younger than their actual age. Oh, and it can actually help you lose weight too (not just in his imagination). Here's how

Calm Yourself

Scent: Orange or Lavender

In one study, scientists sent the scents of lavender and orange into a room. Participants felt less anxious and more positive after being exposed to the smells than those who were provided no fragrance. Lavender is also a proven sedative, helping calm the mind and ease you into sleep.

 

Brain Function

Scent: Rosemary

If your grandmother grows an herb garden, her memory might last a bit longer. In one study, 48 college students were exposed to rosemary oil before an exam and out-performed the control group who just smelled their books, or the cafeteria…or whatever college students normally smell.

 Relieve Pain

Scent: Lavender or Peppermint

How would you like your anesthesiologist to come in with a bouquet of lavender before your surgery? Not such a bad idea, actually. At the New York Medical Center, patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery had lavender oil applied to their anesthesiology mask. These patients required less morphine than the patients with the plain old anesthesia. Peppermint has some pain-relieving properties too. Next time you have a headache, sprinkle a little lavender or peppermint oil in a handkerchief and sniff.

Smelling is believing!

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Be a Quitter: Stop Smoking in 31 Days

If you're waiting to wake up one morning, say "I quit," and never light up again, fuggedaboutit. It's extremely rare for someone to stop smoking just like that -- snap! Most successful quitters prep well in advance before stubbing out their last bad butt. How? Here's what they teach at the Cleveland Clinic's famous Quit Smoking Program. Start taking these 10 steps and a month from now you'll be ready to join the ranks of the 46 million American ex-smokers:

1. Do not quit today. Instead, pick a date that's at least 30 days away, and mark it as "Quit Day" on your calendar. Then, use the next few weeks to prepare to quit. That's how you'll succeed (it takes at least 30 days to train your brain to establish a new habit).
2. Write it down. On a small card, list three reasons why you want to stop smoking. Money? Kiss-ability? Motives vary, but "living longer" shows up on most lists. Keep the card with you at all times, and take a peek every time you light up.
3. Take a walk. Here's a healthful habit that will help you replace the one you want to get rid of: Walk 30 minutes a day, every day. The discipline of doing it will help you stick with your plan and avoid the weight gain that causes some quitters to give up.
4. Check insurance coverage. Your plan may pay for some of the costs of quitting, such as prescription drugs, nicotine replacement therapies, and counseling. (All are way, way cheaper than a year of smoking, by the way.)
5. See your doc. Get a checkup and a prescription for one of the quit-smoking drugs that will ease your transition to becoming an ex-smoker. An anticraving drug like varenicline (Chantix) or bupropion (Zyban or Wellbutrin) will help. If you take bupropion, you can also use nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum or patches. (You cannot use these with Chantix.)
6. Fill your Rx. Be prepared and aware of any restrictions or potential side effects.
7. Tweak your smoking. Start changing your light-up patterns. For example, if you always reach for a cigarette as soon as you get in the car, try not smoking when you drive. Switch brands, too. Instead of lighting up, start practicing a relaxation technique to use when you're stressed.
8. Find a quitting buddy. Find a support partner or a virtual pal on one of the online quit-smoking communities who needs your help quitting as much as you need his or hers.
9. Promise yourself. Take the breathe-free pledge and commit to quit. Share your plans with close friends or family members, too, so they'll support you.
10. Toss 'em. Start taking your quit-smoking Rx on day 30 (and your nicotine replacement, too, if you're using it). Two days later, quit -- it's your first day as a nonsmoker. Congratulations!

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Can you get sunburned through a window?

By Sarah B. Weir 

(Photo: Getty Images)

More from Green Picks blog

While most people can not get sunburned through a window, that doesn't mean that glass protects you from all of the harmful effects of the sun. Glass commonly blocks UVB rays, but untreated windowsdo not shield you from dangerous UVA rays.

Despite many health organizations' efforts to clarify the difference between UVB and UVA rays, people are still confused and believe they're safe and healthy as long as they don't get a burn or stay outdoors too long.

UVB and UVA rays: What's the difference?

UVB rays cause sunburn. It's easy to tell if you've been overexposed by the redness and pain.  The effects of UVA rays are more insidious and cause damage over the long term.

They don't impact the skin right away -- instead, after years of exposure, UVA rays increase signs of visible aging such as wrinkles and brown spots, and can also lead to skin cancer, including melanoma, the most deadly form. While UVB rays can also lead to cancer and photo-aging, they diminish during the winter. UVA rays are present, and harmful, year-round.

Drivers are particularly vulnerable

UVA rays can penetrate a typical window -- whether it's in your home, office, or school. Because car windows are located so close to the body, they pose a particular risk.

Car windshields are coated with a protective film that blocks UVA rays, but often, side windows are not. At least two studies have shown that commuters and others who spend a lot of time in the car have an increased risk of developing skin cancer on the left side of their bodies -- the side that gets the most exposure through the car windows for U.S. drivers.

In the first study, led by Dr. Scott Fosko at the St. Louis University School of Medicine and published in 2010, researchers combed through the records of more than 1,000 patients treated by a local skin cancer clinic. They discovered that the people who spent the most time driving were more likely to develop cancers on their left sides, especially on their faces, necks, arms, and hands -- areas exposed to sunlight through the side window. According to Dr. Fosko, "It is an exposure that the public most likely doesn't consider and should be aware of and take precautions with."

Another study, noted in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in January 2011, examined even more data gathered from the National Cancer Institute and came to the same conclusion.

Dr. Fosko suggests that if you are regularly sitting beside a sunny window indoors, you should also protect yourself from exposure to UVA rays. Although the chronic effects take several years to develop, he warns, "The damage starts early."

How to protect yourself:

• Consider having your car's side and rear windows tinted or laminated with a UV-filtering material such as UV film.
• Roll up your car windows -- open windows let in even more UVA rays as well as UVB rays.
• Drive wearing long sleeves.
• Install a rear window and passenger side window sun shades to protect your children.
• Consider using UV film on home or workplace windows. It is readily available at building supply stores. In addition to blocking harmful rays, it also helps prevent curtain and upholstery fabrics from fading.
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays year-round.
• Wear sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection when driving or outdoors. The lens and retina of the eyes are extremely sensitive to sun damage.

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Do you still use Styrofoam? 8 new additions to the carcinogens list

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services kicked off the weekend with an announcement that eight common substances may cause an increased risk of cancer. Among those now listed in the "Report on Carcinogens" are inhalable glass wool fibers and styrene that are present in Styrofoam. Authorities have determined these elements as "reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen."

They upgraded formaldehyde, which was already on the list, to a "known human carcinogen." Aristolochic acids were also deemed to have this risk.  Formaldehyde is present in household items that include hair straighteners, bubble bath,cosmetics, glue, household cleaners, wrinkle-free fabrics and particleboard. It can trigger watery eyes, breathing difficulty, asthma attacks, and now has been shown to cause nasal cancer in rats.

The FDA warned consumers to discontinue use of aristhocholic acids ten years ago, linking it to kidney failure and urinary tract cancer. The recently released carcinogen report cites the same dangers. Aristocholic acids are a botanical product used in weight-loss products and dietary supplements.

Also making the list are captafol, powdered and hard metal cobalt-tungsten carbide (found in hiking and ski poles, ball point pens, and used to make wedding rings), o-nitrotoluene and riddelliine.

During the summer months, when Styrofoam cups and food containers are on many picnic tables and at outdoor eateries across the country, this is a particularly startling announcement for consumers. It's also present in some auto parts, boat parts, and in carpet backing, which could have a big impact on where and how people gather, particularly in warmer weather.

Do you still use Styrofoam? Will you continue after this announcement of the possible upped cancer risk of using these cups and containers?

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Mother to give daughter uterus in womb transplant

(ThinkStock Photos)

A 25-year-old woman may become the first recipient of a successful womb transplant. The donor? Her mom. Eva Ottosson, 56, is prepared to give her daughter Sara her own reproductive organ in a radical medical procedure that could make medical history. 

If the surgery is successful, Sara might be able to carry a child in the samewomb that carried her. "She needs the womb and if I'm the best donor for her … well, go on. She needs it more than me. I've had two daughters so it's served me well," Eva, a UK-based store owner, told the London Telegraph. 

Sara was born without a uterus and as the ultimate act of maternal generosity her mother hopes to change that.  The transplant is set for the Spring of 2012 and will take place in Gottenburg, Sweden where researchers have been studying the potential for womb transplant for over 10 years now. 

In March, Mats Brannstrom, a scientist at the university, published a study announcing the potential for the medical breakthrough in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, after successfully implanting wombs in mice, rats, sheep, and pigs. 

The operation has only been attempted in humans once in 2000 in Saudi Arabia. The organ failed after only 4 months and had to removed. 

12 years later, the prospect of success is marginally higher. But even if Sara's transplant is successful, she still isn't guaranteed fertility. 

After the surgery, Sara, a biology teacher living in Sweden,  plans to fertilize her eggs with her boyfriend's sperm and then have them implanted through IVF in her inherited uterus.

Next she has to worry about the reaction her body has to the immunosupressant drugs required after an organ transplant. Doctors must consider what kind of havoc the anti-rejection meds could wreak. If everything goes without a hitch, she's still likely to face another surgery to remove the womb after her child is born as a safety precaution. 

Then there's the issue of the surgery itself. According to Brannstrom, the operation is far more complicated than a kidney transplant and massive blood loss is a major concern.

''The difficulty with it is avoiding hemorrhage and making sure you have long enough blood vessels to connect the womb," Brannstrom told the Telegraph. "You are also working deep down in the pelvis area and it is like working in a funnel.''

While she faces a long road ahead, Sara's most concerned about her mom's well-being during the long experimental operation. Mom Eva is more matter of fact about the whole thing.  She says: "My daughter and I are both very rational people and we both think 'it's just a womb'." But if the operation is successful, the idea of a mother and daughter sharing a womb will literally be turned inside out. 

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