Will Being Transgender Affect My Chances Of Having a Biological Baby?
Your chance of having a biological child as a transgender individual, very much depends on whether you are a trans man or a trans woman, how far on you are in your transitioning journey and any steps you may have already taken to preserve your fertility.
What steps do I need to take to preserve my fertility for the future, before undergoing hormone treatment and surgery to become a trans woman?
If you want to have a child that is genetically linked to you, then prior to undergoing hormone treatment and surgery, you will need to have your sperm frozen. This will enable you to have IVF, IUI or ICSI treatment, with either your female partner (if you have one) or a surrogate, carrying your baby.
What steps do I need to take to preserve my fertility for the future, before undergoing hormone treatment and surgery to become a trans man?
To preserve your fertility and have a child who is genetically linked to you, you can opt to have your eggs frozen before undergoing hormone treatment and surgery. This will enable you to have IVF, IUI or ICSI treatment with a surrogate or reciprocal IVF/shared motherhood with your female partner (if you have one).
As a trans man, can I get pregnant and give birth?
Some individuals identifying as a man have opted to retain their ovaries and uterus and, as a result, have gone on to conceive, carry a child and give birth. Having treatment with male hormones may affect the potential to conceive.
As a trans woman, can I get pregnant and give birth?
It is not currently possible for a trans woman to have a uterus transplant, as they would need corresponding veins and arteries for it to be successful, which would include very long surgery and risk. Research is still ongoing. Having treatment with female hormones may affect sperm, which is why it’s important to store frozen sperm before treatment.
As a trans gender individual, am I entitled to NHS-funded fertility treatment?
In England, the decision lies with each individual NHS trust, so it can vary, dependant on where you live. If you are a trans individual (as with same sex partners and single heterosexual people) you will have to self-fund at least 6 unsuccessful cycles of IUI before being considered for NHS treatment.
What are the cost implications for me as a trans individual?
You may have to pay for the storage of your eggs or sperm and will have to pay for any non-funded IUI, IVF or ICSI treatment. If you decide to use a surrogate, you will also need to pay her expenses.
What are the legal implications of having a baby through surrogacy?
If you are in the UK, even if you use your own sperm or your own eggs, the surrogate will still retain legal parental rights over the baby until it has been born and signed over to you as a parent. The risk with surrogacy, is that the surrogate may decide to keep the child herself, as surrogacy agreements are not legally binding in the UK.
Where can I find more information?
At the IVF Network, we aim to provide information for all individuals who are going through infertility treatment. We do this through our dedicated channel of experts, our website and our blog posts.
The following organisations can offer specific information and support around conception and parenting to members of the LGBT+ community: