Abstract
Research question
What are the fertility preservation rates of transgender women and transgender men,
and what are the factors that affect their decision-making?
Design
This prospective study included 97 transgender women and 91 transgender men referred
to the Gender Clinic of the study medical centre's Endocrinology Institute and to
the Gan Meir Community Health Care Centre. The responders completed a 28-item questionnaire
during 2018.
Results
Most of the transgender women and transgender men wished to parent a child (67.4%
and 61.9%, respectively, P = 0.447), but only 40.4% of the transgender women and 5.8% of the transgender men
used fertility preservation (P < 0.001). The main reasons for not pursuing fertility preservation were unwillingness
to postpone gender-affirming treatment (58.8% and 74.0%, respectively, P = 0.076), preference to adopt a child (58.8% and 60.9%, respectively, P = 0.818) and cost (44.9% and 60.9%, respectively, P = 0.086). Factors related to the fertility preservation process itself were specifically
chosen by transgender men compared with transgender women as the reason for not pursuing
this treatment, including distress caused by the fertility preservation technique
(60.3% versus 29.3%, respectively, P = 0.006), fear of gender dysphoria caused by hormonal treatment (63.5% versus 28.3%,
P = 0.002) and concern over the attitude of medical staff (44% versus 19%, P = 0.027).
Conclusions
Fertility preservation rates were considerably lower among transgender men than transgender
women, strongly related to the fertility preservation process itself. Finding ways
to overcome the obstacles confronted by transgender individuals, especially transgender
men, will enhance their future biological parenting.
Keywords
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Biography
Sharon Alpern received her BSc from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. She completed her MD at Tel-Aviv University, Israel, and is currently a Senior Gynecology Resident at the Sourasky Medical Center, Israel. Dr Alpern has a special interest in reproductive endocrinology, infertility and fertility preservation.
Key message
Fertility preservation rates of transgender individuals are low, with much lower rates among transgender men. Factors related to the fertility preservation process itself were implicated in these low rates. Overcoming the obstacles confronted by transgender individuals, especially transgender men, will facilitate their fertility preservation and enhance their biological parenting rate.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 13, 2022
Accepted:
January 7,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 7,
2021
Received:
July 20,
2021
Footnotes
Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
