Building a Modern Family – Fertility Options for the Transgender Community
There are more than one million individuals in the US who identify as transgender and unsurprisingly, many trans men and women have a strong desire to have biological children. Fortunately, there are many options available for transgender individuals and couples seeking fertility care. Depending on the couple’s or individual’s specific situation (presence or absence of ovaries, testicles, and uterus, as well as willingness to start or stop hormone treatments), a variety of treatment combinations may suit your needs.
What Family-Building Option is Right for You?
Both partners have ovaries & uterus:
In this scenario, eggs from one or both partners can be fertilized through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using a sperm donor (known or anonymous) and placed into the uterus of either partner. Even if hormone therapy has been used for an extended period of time, there is still a good chance (especially if he is less than 35) that eggs can be obtained from his ovaries.
Both partners have testicles:
In this scenario, the use of a gestational surrogate and an oocyte (egg) donor are necessary. Once the eggs are retrieved and a gestational surrogate is ready, sperm from one or both partners can be used to fertilize the eggs and then they are placed in the surrogate’s uterus. Additionally, sperm can be introduced into the reproductive tract of a traditional surrogate through a procedure called IUI (intrauterine insemination). While traditional surrogacy is less expensive and considered more natural, the legal complexities of having a child through this method are considerably more complex.
The husband has ovaries/uterus and the wife has testicles:
There are many options for couples in this situation, but the most straightforward method may be getting both partners to stop whatever hormone therapy they are taking and stimulate production of eggs and sperm (this may take up to three months in the case of sperm). Once eggs and sperm are obtained, a gestational surrogate can then be utilized to carry the pregnancy. Of course, if the partner with a uterus wants to carry the pregnancy, that is possible, but it would require abstaining from hormone treatment for the entire length of the pregnancy.
Storing sperm or eggs prior to transition:
One of the best steps a transgender individual can take in terms of protecting their reproductive health is to bank or preserve their eggs or sperm prior to transition. Many doctors will recommend this step to their trans patients before starting hormone therapy or prior to surgery that removes ovaries or testicles. Once preserved, the eggs or sperm can be used many years in the future.
“If you think you might be interested in having biological children at some point, you should speak with your physician and discuss your options before you undergo any type of treatment — surgery or hormonal — which may affect your ability to produce sperm or eggs in the future,” says Dr. Laxmi Kondapalli, a physician at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM), one of the nation’s leading fertility clinics. “If you’ve already transitioned, there is the possibility that sperm production may resume and ovaries will ovulate again, but there are also many unknowns in this relatively new field.”
Transgender individuals and couples have many options to choose from when they are considering having a family. “It’s important to select a fertility clinic that has trans-inclusive policies and understands the sensitivities within the community,” adds Dr. Kondapalli. “At CCRM, we believe it is the right of every individual or couple to build their own family, and that loving families come in many forms.”
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An information session, hosted by a panel of specialists, will provide an opportunity to learn about LGBT family-building options and includes gestational surrogacy, sperm/egg donation, adoption, and foster parenting.
Thursday, October 27
Blush & Blu • 1526 E Colfax Ave • 6–8pm
