Pinnacle Fertility | LGBTQ Family Building
Transgender Family Building
At Pinnacle Fertility, we welcome all transgender patients and strive to make our clinics welcoming to all individuals and family types. At our clinic, a safe and comfortable place is provided, including using your name and pronouns.
Understanding Fertility Treatment Options for Transgender Family Building
Trans individuals and couples have a variety of options for their fertility treatment.
For Those Taking Hormones
Individuals Taking Testosterone
Trans people with eggs who are taking testosterone
Trans individuals who have started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and wish to utilize their eggs to grow their family will need to stop taking testosterone for at least 6 months. There is limited data on the impact of high levels of testosterone on egg health, and as we want your treatment to be as successful as possible, we want to do everything we can to help ensure your eggs are healthy.
Individuals Taking Estrogen
Trans people with sperm who are taking estrogen
Trans folks who have started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and wish to utilize their sperm for fertility treatment will need to stop their estrogen for 3-6 months prior to sperm freezing or treatment attempts. High levels of estrogen can impact sperm quantity and health, so suspending hormone therapy will optimize the sperm’s health and provide the best chance at achieving a successful pregnancy.
For Those Not Taking Hormones and Have Not Had Bottom Surgery
Individuals with Eggs
Options prior to bottom surgery and while not taking testosterone
Trans people with eggs who have not had bottom surgery and have not started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have a few different treatment options to consider including intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and reciprocal IVF.
Individuals with Sperm
Options prior to bottom surgery and while not taking estrogen
There are a variety of fertility treatment options available for trans folks with sperm who have not had bottom surgery or have not started hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These treatment options can depend on the anatomy of your partner and include, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor egg, surrogacy, split cycles of IVF.
Fertility Preservation for Transgender Individuals
Prior to starting hormone therapy or having surgery, trans* individuals can preserve their fertility to build their family at a later time.
Fertility Preservation For Trans Men
Fertility preservation for trans individuals with eggs who plan to undergo gender affirmation surgery or hormone replacement therapy
For trans individuals with eggs who wish to preserve their fertility so they can grow their family at a later date, egg freezing is an option prior to starting testosterone therapy or having surgery to remove their ovaries or uterus. Egg freezing requires multiple vaginal ultrasounds and hormone injections to raise their estrogen levels. These estrogen-based hormone injections will generally not cause an increase in chest tissue, nor will it impact vocal tone or beard growth (if testosterone has been taken prior to the process). After doing a surgical egg retrieval, they will experience a heavy menstrual cycle.
Fertility Preservation For Trans Women
Fertility preservation for trans individuals with sperm who plan to undergo gender affirmation surgery or hormone replacement therapy
Trans folks with sperm may preserve their fertility by freezing their sperm prior to undergoing hormone therapy or surgery to remove their testicles.
The First Meeting With Your Surrogate
When beginning your journey to parenthood through the help of a surrogate (gestational carrier), the first meeting with your surrogate is a significant encounter. Your surrogate is such an important part of the process, the first meeting is a milestone for a relationship that may last for years after your child’s birth. It’s normal to […]
Creating a Pregnancy and Delivery Plan
When it comes to pregnancy and delivery plans, there seem to be two different types of people – those who prepare for every possible scenario and desires that may arise during delivery, and those who decide to cross the bridge when they reach it and make real-time decisions. Each approach has its advantages, but when […]
Split-Cycle IVF: A single twin pregnancy from two sperm providers
One of the possibilities for gay men or trans couples with two sperm providers is pursuing a split-cycle IVF treatment which results in the couple having twins who each hold a genetic link to one of the fathers, within a single pregnancy. The great advantage of having twins through a split-cycle IVF is that you […]