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Chapter 17 - Transgender Assisted Reproductive Technology

from IV - Addressing the Needs of Diverse Populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2022

By
Jamie Joseph ,
Trystan Reese  and
Molly Moravek
Edited by
Sharon N. Covington
Sharon N. Covington
Affiliation:
Shady Grove Fertility, Rockville, MD
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Summary

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is essential for transgender people’s reproductive justice and autonomy in relation to fertility preservation and family building, whether using their own bodies (eggs, sperm, or uterus), donor gametes, or a gestational carrier. The ability to form a family using one’s own gametes and/or body is necessary for transgender people to consider before medical transition is initiated (hormones/surgeries) and is part of the Informed Consent process of gender medical transition. Progressive thinking, greater cultural awareness and modern medicine have contributed to an increase in transgender people utilizing ART to create their families. Helping transgender patients navigate medically assisted fertility preservation and reproduction requires diverse knowledge, sensitivity training and cultural inclusivity for fertility counselors. Providing gender-affirmative care in reproductive endocrinology and fertility settings when working with transgender patients involves understanding terminology used in the transgender population, use of a trauma-informed care lens, knowledge of a nonbinary gender system, avoiding heteronormativity, cisnormativity and knowledge of gender dysphoria. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), The Endocrine Society, World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) have published documents addressing fertility and preservation considerations for transgender people.

Keywords

transgenderhormonesmedical nonbinarytransitiongenderdysphoriaWPATHfertilitypreservation
Type
Chapter
Information
Fertility Counseling: Clinical Guide , pp. 172 - 182
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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