Justine Defreyne1, Judith Van Schuylenbergh2, Joz Motmans2, Kelly Tilleman3, Guy T'Sjoen2. 1. Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. 2. Center for Sexology and Gender, Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. 3. Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
Introduction: Transgender people who chose to proceed with gender affirming hormonal and/or surgical therapy, may face reduced options for fulfilling their parental desire in the future. The ideas and concerns of adult transgender people regarding fertility preservation and parental desire have never been reported in a large, non-clinical sample of assigned male at birth (AMAB) transgender people. Methods: A web-based survey on fertility and parenthood in (binary and non-binary) transgender people was conducted in Belgium. AMAB people were selected for this analysis. Results: We included 254 AMAB persons, of which 196 (77.2%) self-identified as transgender women (TW), 14 (5.5%) as cross-dressers and 44 (17.3%) as gender non-binary (GNB) people. Fifty-five (21.6%) respondents had a current/future parental desire, parental desire was already fulfilled in 81 (31.9%) and not present in 57 people (22.4%) (other: 19.2%). TW were more likely to express a parental desire, compared to GNB people and cross-dressers (P = 0.004). In total, 196 AMAB people previously sought medical assistance, of which 30 (15.3%) considered the loss of fertility due to the transitioning process undesirable. The majority (68.2%) did not want fertility preservation (FP). Fourteen people (9.8%) had proceeded with FP. The main reasons not to proceed with FP included not feeling the need (70; 68.0%), not desiring a genetic link with (future) child(ren) (20; 19.4%) and having to postpone hormone treatment (15; 14.6%). TW were more likely to have a parental desire and to have cryopreserved or to consider cryopreserving gametes, compared to GNB people. Conclusion: Parental desire and FP use were lower in the current non-clinical sample than in previous research on clinical samples. This can possibly be explained by the barriers transgender people face when considering fertility options, including postponing hormone therapy. Also, GNB persons have different needs for gender affirming treatment and FP.
Introduction: Transgender people who chose to proceed with gender affirming hormonal and/or surgical therapy, may face reduced options for fulfilling their parental desire in the future. The ideas and concerns of adult transgender people regarding fertility preservation and parental desire have never been reported in a large, non-clinical sample of assigned male at birth (AMAB) transgender people. Methods: A web-based survey on fertility and parenthood in (binary and non-binary) transgender people was conducted in Belgium. AMAB people were selected for this analysis. Results: We included 254 AMAB persons, of which 196 (77.2%) self-identified as transgender women (TW), 14 (5.5%) as cross-dressers and 44 (17.3%) as gender non-binary (GNB) people. Fifty-five (21.6%) respondents had a current/future parental desire, parental desire was already fulfilled in 81 (31.9%) and not present in 57 people (22.4%) (other: 19.2%). TW were more likely to express a parental desire, compared to GNBpeople and cross-dressers (P = 0.004). In total, 196 AMAB people previously sought medical assistance, of which 30 (15.3%) considered the loss of fertility due to the transitioning process undesirable. The majority (68.2%) did not want fertility preservation (FP). Fourteen people (9.8%) had proceeded with FP. The main reasons not to proceed with FP included not feeling the need (70; 68.0%), not desiring a genetic link with (future) child(ren) (20; 19.4%) and having to postpone hormone treatment (15; 14.6%). TW were more likely to have a parental desire and to have cryopreserved or to consider cryopreserving gametes, compared to GNBpeople. Conclusion: Parental desire and FP use were lower in the current non-clinical sample than in previous research on clinical samples. This can possibly be explained by the barriers transgender people face when considering fertility options, including postponing hormone therapy. Also, GNBpersons have different needs for gender affirming treatment and FP.
Authors: Wylie C Hembree; Peggy T Cohen-Kettenis; Louis Gooren; Sabine E Hannema; Walter J Meyer; M Hassan Murad; Stephen M Rosenthal; Joshua D Safer; Vin Tangpricha; Guy G T'Sjoen Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2017-11-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Katrien Wierckx; Eva Van Caenegem; Els Elaut; David Dedecker; Fleur Van de Peer; Kaatje Toye; Steven Weyers; Piet Hoebeke; Stan Monstrey; Griet De Cuypere; Guy T'Sjoen Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2011-06-23 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Da David Jiang; Erica Swenson; Malachi Mason; Kevin R Turner; Daniel D Dugi; Jason C Hedges; Sarah L Hecht Journal: Urology Date: 2019-07-13 Impact factor: 2.649
Authors: Andres Matoso; Binny Khandakar; Songyang Yuan; Tony Wu; Li J Wang; Kara A Lombardo; Shamlal Mangray; Abul Ala Syed Rifat Mannan; Evgeny Yakirevich Journal: Hum Pathol Date: 2018-03-17 Impact factor: 3.466
Authors: Matthias K Auer; Johannes Fuss; Timo O Nieder; Peer Briken; Sarah V Biedermann; Günter K Stalla; Matthias W Beckmann; Thomas Hildebrandt Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2018-05 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: A D Fisher; G Senofonte; C Cocchetti; G Guercio; V Lingiardi; M C Meriggiola; M Mosconi; G Motta; J Ristori; A M Speranza; M Pierdominici; M Maggi; G Corona; F Lombardo Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2021-10-22 Impact factor: 4.256