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.

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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

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article

Interest in Fertility Preservation Among Adults Seen at a Gender Care Clinic

Heather Parnell, Quinnette Jones, Shilpi Agrawala, Scott M Carlson et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
article

Interest in Fertility Preservation Among Adults Seen at a Gender Care Clinic

Heather Parnell, Quinnette Jones, Shilpi Agrawala, Scott M Carlson, Carly E. Kelley, Katelyn M. Holliday, Andrew Weinhold
article en

Abstract

<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.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(17)
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)
National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 73%
LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
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