Navigating the journey to parenthood can be complex, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals, where the paths to family can take various forms. If you identify as a trans man or non-binary and are considering gender-affirming surgery, it’s essential to think about your future fertility options.
Understanding Fertility Preservation
Fertility preservation involves freezing your eggs or reproductive tissue for potential use in future fertility treatments. For trans men and non-binary individuals with ovaries, this typically means undergoing a partial IVF cycle to retrieve and freeze your eggs. Given that fertility can decline with age, it’s advised to consider freezing your gametes sooner rather than later, ideally before starting any gender-affirming treatments. We recognize this might mean delaying or pausing hormone therapy, which can be a tough choice. We’re here to help you explore your options.
How Does the Process Work?
The gamete freezing process generally spans about three weeks and involves a series of steps:
- Fertility Assessment: Your journey begins with a fertility assessment to help make informed decisions regarding your fertility. For those with ovaries, this means an anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) blood test and an antral follicle count (AFC) internal scan, which assess your fertility health and response to medication.
- Stimulating the Ovaries: After your assessment, you’ll have a few planning appointments where we’ll guide you on the medications needed for your treatment. This starts with a daily injection at home to stimulate follicle growth in your ovaries, usually over a 14-day period.
- Suppressing Natural Menstrual Cycle: A second daily injection will help stop your natural hormone production, allowing for better control over when your gametes are released.
- Monitoring Progress: Regular pelvic scans will track the growth of your follicles, determining the right time for gamete collection.
- Gamete Retrieval: Once the follicles are ready, you’ll receive an injection to mature the gametes before they are gently retrieved using a needle. Don’t worry, sedation will ensure you feel no pain during this step.
- Gamete Freezing: The healthy gametes are then rapidly cooled and stored in liquid nitrogen until you’re ready to use them.
Costs and Financial Options
Here’s a breakdown of typical costs associated with gamete freezing:
- Fertility Assessment: £485 (includes consultation and tests)
- Gamete Freezing Cycle: £3,695 (includes egg retrieval and freezing)
- Storage Fee: £370 annually
If you’re considering financing options for the gamete freezing process, you can spread the cost over 12 months at 0% interest, making it a bit easier on your budget.
For those just starting out, check out this other blog post about toddler growth and development for insights into what comes after the fertility journey. Also, if you’re looking for expert advice on pregnancy and home insemination, this resource is excellent. Plus, for couples interested in the process, Make A Mom provides an informative guide on artificial insemination kits.
In summary, if you’re a trans man or non-binary individual thinking about starting a family, exploring fertility preservation options is a crucial step. Our team is ready to assist you with any questions and help you navigate this important journey.