Information for Trans and Non-binary Fertility Preservation - Sperm Freezing

How does gender-related treatment affect fertility?

Hormone therapy and surgeries can impact your fertility, sometimes permanently. The extent depends on the type and duration of treatment.

• Hormone therapy (oestrogen and puberty/hormone blockers) suppresses fertility. While stopping treatment may restore fertility, this is not guaranteed.
• Surgeries such as orchidectomy (removal of testes) result in permanent infertility. If you are considering surgery, it’s crucial to discuss fertility preservation options beforehand.

Because the effects of hormone treatment on fertility are often reversible, there are many cases where trans people have stopped hormone treatment and been able to conceive a child naturally.

Sperm freezing before starting hormone therapy is strongly recommended for those who may want biological children in the future. While fertility preservation may still be possible after beginning treatment, it may be necessary to stop hormone therapy for a few months, and sometimes your sperm production might not recover.

Prolonged tucking of the testes can reduce sperm count significantly by increasing testicular temperature and affecting sperm viability. If you are considering sperm storage, avoiding tucking can help maintain viable sperm production.

Planning fertility preservation before transitioning ensures you have options should you wish to try for biological children later.