Trans Health: Fertility & You
TRANSWOMEN can have a baby.
If you are a trans- woman who wants to have a child someday, here are a few options to think about:
- You can use your own sperm to have a baby. If you’re still making sperm, you can get your partner pregnant.
- You can donate your sperm to someone who can carry the baby for you.
- Or you can save your sperm at a sperm bank for later when you’re ready to have a baby.
If you take hormones, you may need to stop for 3–6 months to make enough sperm.
You can also:
- Adopt a child.
- Foster a child.
TRANSMEN can have a baby.
If you are a transman who wants to have a child someday, here are a few options to think about:
- You can save your eggs, like sperm banking, to use later on when you’re ready to have a baby. You can do this before you have surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus.
- You can donate your eggs to a female partner, or to a friend who is willing to carry the pregnancy for you.
- You can choose to have your own baby. If you still have a uterus and ovaries, you could use your own eggs and carry your own child.
You can also:
Adopt a child.
Foster a child.
What if I’m not ready to have a baby right now?
As a transwoman, you may still make enough sperm to start a pregnancy.
As a transman, taking hormones and not having a period won’t stop you from getting pregnant. You can still get pregnant while taking T.
To prevent a pregnancy:
- Use a condom or another birth control method to prevent a pregnancy.
- You can use a method of birth control that doesn’t have hormones.
If you had sex without a birth control method with someone who makes sperm, you could get pregnant. You might want to take emergency contraception (EC) to prevent a pregnancy. It’s best to take EC right after having sex. You must take it within 3 to 5 days for it to work.
Ask your provider how to get EC in your area.
Planning for having children is part of life.
Like anyone else, as a transgender person, you have choices when it comes to having children of your own. You need and deserve high quality health care.
Each transgender person person is unique.
Wanting to have, or not to have, children are big life choices. Whichever you choose, it’s good to plan ahead.
Protect your fertility.
Keep healthy today so you are able to have a baby later on. Untreated STDs can cause problems with fertility.
People are at risk of getting an STD from having oral, anal, and vaginal sex. But you can protect yourself:
- Use a condom or a dental dam every time you have sex.
- Get tested for STDs and HIV. Ask your provider how often to get tested.
- If you have an STD, get treated right away.
Have more questions?
Everyone has their own set of concerns and questions. Here are a few resources that can help:
Center of Excellence for Transgender Health
https://prevention.ucsf.edu/transhealth
National Center for Transgender Equality
Transgender Law Center
National Center for Lesbian Rights
https://www.nclrights.org
To find a family planning clinic near you, go to: https://opa.hhs.gov