First name
Rebecca
Middle name
W
Last name
Persky

Title

Timing and Delivery of Fertility Preservation Information to Transgender Adolescents, Young Adults, and Their Parents.

Year of Publication

2020

Date Published

2020 Aug 18

ISSN Number

1879-1972

Abstract

<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>This study aimed to examine transgender adolescents and young adults' (AYA) and their parents' preferences regarding fertility preservation (FP) information provision and discussion timing.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Data were derived from two separate studies: an online survey and semistructured qualitative interviews. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and interview data using conventional content analysis.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Survey participants (AYA: 88% and parents: 93%) preferred gender clinic physicians provide FP information, and nearly one-third endorsed mental health professionals (AYA: 28% and parents: 26%) or fertility specialists (AYA: 23% and parents: 30%). Interview participants' FP discussion timing preferences ranged from the initial clinic visit, follow-up visits, before medical intervention, to mentioning FP early but deferring in-depth discussion to follow-up visits.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Gender clinic physicians, mental health professionals, and fertility specialists should be prepared to discuss FP with transgender AYA and their parents. Opinions varied regarding when to provide FP information; therefore, discussion timing may need to be individualized.</p>

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.044

Alternate Title

J Adolesc Health

PMID

32826153

Title

Attitudes Toward Fertility Preservation Among Transgender Youth and Their Parents.

Year of Publication

2020

Date Published

2020 Apr 29

ISSN Number

1879-1972

Abstract

<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>While gender-affirming hormones (GAH) may impact the fertility of transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) youth, few pursue fertility preservation (FP). The objective of this study is to understand youth and parent attitudes toward FP decision-making.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>This study is a cross-sectional survey of youth and parents in a pediatric, hospital-based gender clinic from April to December 2017. Surveys were administered electronically, containing 34 items for youth and 31 items for parents regarding desire for biological children, willingness to delay GAH for FP, and factors influencing FP decisions.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The mean age of youth (n&nbsp;= 64) was 16.8&nbsp;years, and 64% assigned female at birth; 46 parents participated. Few youth (20%) and parents (13%) found it important to have biological children or grandchildren, and 3% of youth and 33% of parents would be willing to delay GAH for FP. The most common factor influencing youth FP decision-making was discomfort with a body part they do not identify with (69%), and for the parents, whether it was important to their child (61%). In paired analyses, youth and their parents answered similarly regarding youth desire for biological children and willingness to delay GAH for FP.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The majority of TGGD youth and parents did not find having biological offspring important and were not willing to delay GAH for FP. Discomfort with reproductive anatomy was a major influencing factor for youth FP decision-making and their child's wishes was a major factor for parents. Future qualitative research is needed to understand TGGD youth and parent attitudes toward FP and to develop shared decision-making tools.</p>

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.02.027

Alternate Title

J Adolesc Health

PMID

32359942

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