Transgender men’s fertility preservation: experiences, social support, and the quest for genetic parenthood

Abstract

Transgender people assigned female at birth may undergo fertility preservation by egg or embryo freezing, usually prior to gender affirming treatment. In this binational ethnographic study, four transgender men were included as part of a larger comparative project on fertility preservation. In-depth ethnographic interviews allowed informants to talk freely about their fertility preservation experiences, and the circumstances that had enabled them to pursue this option. Prominent in men’s accounts were the importance of genetic parenthood and the role of social support from others in the fertility preservation process. Indeed, in all cases, social support—from parents, siblings, partners, peers, physicians and employers—was critical, effectively enabling young transgender men to embark on their fertility preservation journeys and undergo the physically taxing process. This study illustrates the power of thriving through relationships that were critical in young transgender men’s experiences of fertility preservation.

Keywords:

• Fertility preservation
• transgender reproduction
• egg and embryo freezing
• social support
• genetic parenthood

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the US National Science Foundation’s Cultural Anthropology and Science, Technology and Society programme.