39% от транс мъжете и небинарните хора съобщават за съжаление за избора си за плодовитост след премахване на органи

Избор за запазване на плодовитостта и съжаление за решението след операция за потвърждаване на пола при транс мъже или джендърно небинарни лица

Authors
Austin Johnson, Asha B. McClurg, Janine Baldino, Rajeshree Das, Erin T. Carey
Journal
F&S Reports
Year
2024

Summary

Surgeons at the University of North Carolina surveyed trans men and nonbinary people who had their womb and/or ovaries removed. They asked about regret over the fertility decisions made before surgery, not regret about the surgery itself. Of 57 people who replied, about 2.5 years after surgery, 39% had at least mild regret and 16% moderate to severe regret. Nearly everyone had turned down seeing a fertility specialist, most often because they did not want children at the time, and no one froze eggs or embryos. Records said all had been given fertility advice, but only 30% remembered it, and those who felt the advice was poor had more regret. More people rated having a family in future as important after surgery than before. With only half replying, one clinic and short follow-up, the true level of regret is uncertain and could be higher or lower.

Key findings

  • 57 от 112 транс мъже и небинарни хора (51%), на които са отстранени репродуктивните органи в Университета на Северна Каролина през 2014 до 2023 г., отговарят на анкетата, средно около 2,5 години след операцията.
  • В тестван въпросник за съжаление 39% имат съжаление за решенията за плодовитостта, взети преди операцията: 23% леко и 16% умерено до силно (резултати до 85 от 100).
  • Медицинските досиета показват, че на всеки човек са дадени съвети за плодовитостта, но само 30% си спомнят, че им е говорено за плодовитостта или начините за създаване на семейство.
  • Досиетата показват, че на 97% е предложен специалист по плодовитост, но само 3 души (5,5%) приемат и никой не продължава със замразяване на яйцеклетки или ембриони.
  • Най-честата причина за отказ е нежеланието за деца по това време (68%), следвана от планове за осиновяване, тревога от спирането на тестостерона и страх, че бременността ще влоши половия дистрес.
  • Съжалението е значително по-високо при хората, които смятат, че съветите за ефектите върху плодовитостта са лоши (типичен резултат 50 срещу 0), и малко по-високо при тези, които смятат, че съветите за възможностите за плодовитост са лоши (12,5 срещу 0).
  • Повече хора оценяват като важно да имат деца или семейство в бъдеще към момента на анкетата, отколкото преди операцията, което предполага, че възгледите могат да се променят след операцията.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of decisional regret regarding preoperative fertility preservation choices after gender-affirming surgery or removal of reproductive organs.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: University-based pratice.

PATIENTS: A total of 57 survey respondents identifying as transgender men or gender nonbinary with a history of gender-affirming surgery or removal of reproductive organs between 2014 and 2023 with the University of North Carolina Minimally Invasive Gynecology division.

INTERVENTION: Survey or questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence and severity of decisional regret regarding preoperative fertility preservation choices were measured with the use of the validated decisional regret scale (DRS) (scored 0-100). Secondary outcomes included patient-reported barriers to pursuing reproductive endocrinology and infertility consultation and fertility preservation treatment.

RESULTS: The survey response rate was 50.9% (57/112). "Mild" to "severe" decisional regret was reported by 38.6% (n = 22) of survey respondents, with DRS scores among all respondents ranging from 0-85. Higher median DRS scores were associated with patient-reported inadequacy of preoperative fertility counseling regarding implications of surgery on future fertility or family-building (0 vs. 50) and fertility preservation options (0 vs. 12.5). No desire for future fertility at the time of fertility counseling was the most frequent reason (68.4%) for declining a referral to reproductive endocrinology and infertility for additional fertility preservation discussion.

CONCLUSIONS: Decisional regret regarding preoperative fertility preservation choices is experienced among transgender men or gender nonbinary persons after gender-affirming surgery or the removal of reproductive organs. Preoperative, patient-centered fertility counseling and fertility preservation treatments should be provided to reduce the risk of future regret.

Conclusion

Decisional regret regarding preoperative fertility preservation choices is experienced among transgender men or gender nonbinary persons after gender-affirming surgery or the removal of reproductive organs. Preoperative, patient-centered fertility counseling and fertility preservation treatments should be provided to reduce the risk of future regret. (Full text adds that care should include equitable access to family-building options in the context of decreasing access to gender-affirming care.)