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Discover Pediatric Collections on COVID-19 and Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health

American Academy of Pediatrics
Commentary

Fertility Preservation Outcomes and Considerations in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth

Jason Rafferty
Pediatrics September 2019, 144 (3) e20192000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2000
Jason Rafferty
Thundermist Health Centers, Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island; and Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, Rhode Island
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  • Abbreviations:
    MAI —
    medical affirming intervention
    TGD-AYA —
    transgender and gender-diverse adolescents and young adults
  • Transgender and gender-diverse adolescents and young adults (TGD-AYA) increasingly present to health care providers seeking medical affirming interventions (MAIs) to induce physiologic changes aligned with their gender identity. MAIs include gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to temporarily suppress puberty, testosterone to induce masculine characteristics among those assigned female at birth, and estrogen (often combined with an antiandrogenic agent) to induce feminine characteristics among those assigned male at birth. There is considerable concern that these MAIs impact gonadal structures and function, thereby decreasing future fertility potential.1 Little research has explored reversibility or thresholds (amount and/or duration) of MAIs in impacting TGD-AYA fertility. Therefore, multiple professional organizations recommend fertility counseling before MAI initiation.2–4

    In this month’s issue of Pediatrics, Barnard et al5 provide the first study of semen cryopreservation outcomes among TGD-AYA assigned male at birth who assert a female gender identity. They conducted retrospective chart reviews on 11 TGD-AYA referred for fertility preservation over a nearly 4-year period. One patient did not provide a sample. The 8 samples obtained from patients before MAI initiation were all viable. One patient who was on gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists for 6 months before semen collection had a low-quality sample 3 month after discontinuation, but 2 months later, a viable sample was obtained. Another patient on estrogen and an antiandrogenic agent (spironolactone) for 26 months was unsuccessful in producing sperm for 4 months after discontinuation leading up to scheduled orchiectomy.

    Barnard et al5 recognize the limited generalizability due to small sample size, particularly having only 2 patients who provided samples after starting MAI. Confounding factors, such as smoking, obesity, or psychological stress, could also prevent normal samples from being obtained. Stress is a relevant factor for TGD-AYA because stopping MAI may increase gender dysphoria or result in greater self-awareness of potential stigma or rejection by others. Secondly, the course for the single patient on estradiol and spironolactone was limited by orchiectomy. It cannot be assumed that a viable sample could not be obtained with more time or that this supports any association between MAI and permanent infertility. Studies of transgender adults, as reviewed by Barnard et al,5 demonstrate normal sample collection after starting MAI.

    Semen cryopreservation outcomes before MAI are expected to follow trends for age-matched peers. Similar successful outcomes have been shown among adolescents with cancer after pubertal onset but before gonadotoxic treatments.6 Barnard et al5 demonstrate that collection before MAI is quick and effective, which is important in preventing gender dysphoria caused by later discontinuation of MAI for a considerable time and multiple collection attempts. There is often urgency to start MAI among TGD-AYA due to gender dysphoria and related psychological sequelae. However, starting MAI immediately and delaying fertility services may lead to increased overall morbidity for some patients.

    The standard of providing fertility counseling before MAI does not always occur. In 1 study of 158 TGD-AYA, only 20% reported discussing fertility, and 13% reported discussing effects of MAIs on fertility. Meanwhile, 60% expressed interest in learning more.7 One limiting factor is the lack of practice guidelines and studies to guide physicians in providing effective fertility counseling to TGD-AYA.

    Barnard et al5 review data suggesting TGD-AYA have low interest in fertility services, but many TGD-AYA questioned whether this may later change.8 Among adult transgender populations, interest in biological children is the same as that of age-matched peers.9 After starting MAIs, TGD-AYA report being more emotionally capable of considering future parenting because of increasing comfort with their bodies and romantic relationships.1 Developmentally, adolescents focus on personal identity and orient toward the present over future desires or consequences. This makes fertility counseling and family planning challenging, especially when disagreeing perspectives arise between adolescents and parents. Family and individual therapy can help in exploring values and perspective taking. Tools are also available to help TGD-AYA and guardians explore attitudes toward fertility, including the Transgender Youth Fertility Attitudes Questionnaire.8

    TGD-AYA use of fertility services is also low.1,9,10 The high cost is a consideration because such services often are not covered by insurance, and pursuing them requires financial resources up front. Other barriers include low availability of services, collection procedures causing dysphoria, and desire not to delay MAIs.1,9 Stereotypes and stigma contribute, such as assuming one’s identity dictates an inability or decision not to reproduce. Under a reproductive justice framework, autonomy around family planning is a right that should not be limited by structural or systemic barriers.11 Many professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, advocate for access to essential health care by TGD-AYA, which includes fertility services.12

    Overall, there is a clinical and ethical imperative to better understand and provide access to fertility services for TGD-AYA. Barnard et al5 pave the way, but more research is critical to characterize the potential for and limitations of fertility preservation, specifically after initiating MAIs, and on alternative approaches that are more effective and/or better tolerated.

    Footnotes

      • Accepted June 27, 2019.
    • Address correspondence to Jason Rafferty, MD, MPH, EdM, Department of Pediatrics, Thundermist Health Centers, 450 Clinton St, Woonsocket, RI 02895. E-mail: jason_rafferty{at}mail.harvard.edu
    • Opinions expressed in these commentaries are those of the author and not necessarily those of the American Academy of Pediatrics or its Committees.

    • FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The author has indicated he has no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

    • FUNDING: No external funding

    • POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The author has indicated he has no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

    • COMPANION PAPER: A companion to this article can be found online at www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2018-3943.

    References

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      1. Chen D,
      2. Simons L,
      3. Johnson EK,
      4. Lockart BA,
      5. Finlayson C
      . Fertility preservation for transgender adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2017;61(1):120–123pmid:28363716
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    2. ↵
      1. WPATH World Professional Association for Transgender Health
      . Standards of Care (SOC) for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People. Minneapolis, MN: World Professional Association for Transgender Health; 2011. Available at: https://www.wpath.org/publications/soc. Accessed June 18, 2019
      1. Hembree WC,
      2. Cohen-Kettenis PT,
      3. Gooren L, et al
      . Endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;102(11):3869–3903pmid:28945902
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      1. Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
      . Access to fertility services by transgender persons: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2015;104(5):1111–1115pmid:26363388
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      1. Barnard EP,
      2. Dhar CP,
      3. Rothenberg SS, et al
      . Fertility preservation outcomes in adolescent and young adult feminizing transgender patients. Pediatrics. 2019:144(2):e20183943
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    5. ↵
      1. Burns KC,
      2. Hoefgen H,
      3. Strine A,
      4. Dasgupta R
      . Fertility preservation options in pediatric and adolescent patients with cancer. Cancer. 2018;124(9):1867–1876pmid:29370455
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    6. ↵
      1. Chen D,
      2. Matson M,
      3. Macapagal K, et al
      . Attitudes toward fertility and reproductive health among transgender and gender-nonconforming adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2018;63(1):62–68pmid:29503031
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    7. ↵
      1. Strang JF,
      2. Jarin J,
      3. Call D, et al
      . Transgender youth fertility attitudes questionnaire: measure development in nonautistic and autistic transgender youth and their parents. J Adolesc Health. 2018;62(2):128–135pmid:29033160
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      1. Neblett MF II,
      2. Hipp HS
      . Fertility considerations in transgender persons. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2019;48(2):391–402pmid:31027547
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      1. Nahata L,
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      . Low fertility preservation utilization among transgender youth. J Adolesc Health. 2017;61(1):40–44pmid:28161526
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    10. ↵
      1. National Women’s Law Center and Law Students for Reproductive Justice
      . If You Really Care About Reproductive Justice, You Should Care About Transgender Rights!Washington, DC: National Women’s Law Center; 2015. Available at: https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/rj_and_transgender_fact_sheet.pdf. Accessed June 18, 2019
    11. ↵
      1. Rafferty J; Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health; Committee on Adolescence; Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness
      . Ensuring comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2018;142(4):e20182162pmid:30224363
      OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    • Copyright © 2019 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
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    Jason Rafferty
    Pediatrics Sep 2019, 144 (3) e20192000; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2000

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    Fertility Preservation Outcomes and Considerations in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth
    Jason Rafferty
    Pediatrics Sep 2019, 144 (3) e20192000; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2000
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