Interest in Fertility Preservation Among Adults Seen at a Gender Care Clinic
<b>Introduction/Background</b>: Medical treatments received by transgender and/or gender diverse (TGD) people can impact fertility, yet the literature lacks data on factors that influence fertility decisions among TGD people. <b>Specific Aim(s):</b> This study aimed to identify predictors of interest in fertility preservation (IFP). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This retrospective observational study utilized data from 2021-2023 from an adult gender registry for patients receiving care at academic medical center (n = 206). Patient demographic data and survey responses to questions about fertility were queried and analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using logistic regression. <b>Results:</b> Most patients (73.8%, n = 152) were not interested in fertility preservation (FP) and 16.5% (n = 34) were unsure. Reasons most often cited were not wanting biological children (55.9%, n = 104), preferring adoption (20.4%, n = 38), cost (19.9%, n = 37), and dysphoria (19.4%, n = 36). Bivariate analyses showed that increasing age, being married, and already having children were significantly inversely associated with IFP (<i>p</i> = 0.03, 0.01, 0.02, respectively). Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (OR (95% CI): 3.43 (1.19, 9.84)) and disability or unemployment (OR (95% CI): 4.19 (1.42, 13.00)) were significantly associated with IFP vs. Non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity and full-time employment, respectively. In multivariate models, being married was significantly inversely associated with IFP, e.g., OR (95% CI): 0.30, (0.07, 0.99), when accounting for age and already having children. Race/ethnicity and employment comparisons remained significant after adjusting for other factors. <b>Conclusions:</b> Most patients did not desire FP. Among those IFP, potential predictors include age, marital status, already having children, race and ethnicity, and employment and disability status.
Authors
- Heather Parnell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2681-6505)
- Quinnette Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8833-558X)
- Shilpi Agrawala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5135-6005)
- Scott M Carlson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7012-4127)
- Carly E. Kelley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8807-8708)
- Katelyn M. Holliday (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2540-5974)
- Andrew Weinhold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5015-0896)
Institutions
- Duke University (US)
- Dallas County (US)
- Baylor University Medical Center (US)
- Reproductive Science Center (US)
- Duke Institute for Health Innovation (US)
- Duke University Health System (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176175
- Primary Topic
- LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences