Summary

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco ran an online survey of 41 trans men who had become pregnant and given birth after transitioning. They asked about hormone use, fertility, pregnancy care and birth. About six in ten had taken testosterone before the pregnancy, most used their own eggs, half had a doctor for pregnancy care, and most gave birth in hospital. People described health workers who knew little about their situation and wished for better support. The authors concluded that trans men can and do get pregnant after transition and that services should adapt. It was one of the first studies of its kind and is often cited to show fertility can return after stopping testosterone. But it only asked people who did get pregnant, so it cannot say how often testosterone users stay fertile. All answers came from a small, self-selected online group.

Key findings

• 전환 후 임신하고 출산한 스스로를 트랜스 남성이라고 밝힌 41명이 2013년 3월부터 12월 사이 온라인 설문을 작성했습니다.
• 임신 전에 61%(41명 중 25명)가 테스토스테론을 복용했으며, 참여에 호르몬 복용이 요구되지는 않았습니다.
• 임신했을 때 평균 28세였고 임신의 88%(36건)에서 본인의 난자를 썼습니다.
• 절반은 의사에게 임신 진료를 받았고 78%는 병원에서 출산했습니다.
• 서술 답변에서 사람들은 의료진이 임신한 트랜스 남성의 필요에 대해 거의 모른다고 말했고, 그들을 지원할 자료를 원했습니다.
• 실제로 임신한 사람만 조사했으므로, 이 연구는 테스토스테론 이후 임신이 가능하다는 것을 보여주지만 테스토스테론 이후 생식 능력이 얼마나 자주 돌아오는지는 말할 수 없습니다.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cross-sectional study of transgender men who had been pregnant and delivered after transitioning from female-to-male gender to help guide practice and further investigation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We administered a web-based survey from March to December 2013 to inquire about demographics, hormone use, fertility, pregnancy experience, and birth outcomes. Participants were not required to have been on hormone therapy to be eligible. We used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative data.

RESULTS: Forty-one self-described transgender men completed the survey. Before pregnancy, 61% (n=25) had used testosterone. Mean age at conception was 28 years with a standard deviation of 6.8 years. Eighty-eight percent of oocytes (n=36) came from participants' own ovaries. Half of the participants received prenatal care from a physician and 78% delivered in a hospital. Qualitative themes included low levels of health care provider awareness and knowledge about the unique needs of pregnant transgender men as well as a desire for resources to support transgender men through their pregnancy.

CONCLUSION: Transgender men are achieving pregnancy after having socially, medically, or both transitioned. Themes from this study can be used to develop transgender-appropriate services and interventions that may improve the health and health care experiences of transgender men.

Conclusion

Transgender men are achieving pregnancy after having socially, medically, or both transitioned. Themes from this study can be used to develop transgender-appropriate services and interventions that may improve the health and health care experiences of transgender men.