Abstract

Increasing numbers of transgender individuals are presenting for gender-affirming medical care. For trans women, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) promotes feminization but also inhibits spermatogenesis. There is a common untested assumption that this inhibition is permanent, resulting in infertility. In this longitudinal study, we report the recovery of viable spermatozoa in nine trans women who stopped GAHT for reproductive purposes. Our preliminary findings suggest that the negative impact of GAHT on spermatogenesis can be reversed, casting doubt on previous claims that GAHT in trans women inevitably leads to permanent infertility. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings, which have implications not only for fertility counseling and the reproductive options of transgender individuals but also efforts to restrict access to GAHT based on fertility grounds.
Original languageEnglish
Article number100858
JournalCell Reports Medicine
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jan 2023

Keywords

  • anti-androgens
  • azoospermia
  • estrogen
  • fertility
  • gender-affirming hormones
  • spermatogenesis
  • transgender

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