“Lights and Shades” of Fertility Preservation in Transgender Men Patients: A Clinical and Pathological Review
Antonio D’Amato,
Eliano Cascardi,
Andrea Etrusco,
Antonio Simone Laganà,
Luca Maria Schonauer,
Gerardo Cazzato,
Antonella Vimercati,
Antonio Malvasi,
Gianluca Raffaello Damiani,
Edoardo Di Naro,
Giuseppe Trojano,
Ettore Cicinelli,
Amerigo Vitagliano,
Miriam Dellino
Affiliations
Antonio D’Amato
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Eliano Cascardi
Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
Andrea Etrusco
Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, ARNAS “Civico—Di Cristina—Benfratelli”, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Antonio Simone Laganà
Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, ARNAS “Civico—Di Cristina—Benfratelli”, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Luca Maria Schonauer
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gerardo Cazzato
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Pathology Section, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Antonella Vimercati
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Antonio Malvasi
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gianluca Raffaello Damiani
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Edoardo Di Naro
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giuseppe Trojano
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Ettore Cicinelli
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Amerigo Vitagliano
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Miriam Dellino
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Fertility preservation (FP) is becoming a critical issue in transgender men who desire biological offspring in the future. The prevalence of transgender individuals in the United States is increasing, and as a result, the demand for gender-affirming surgeries (GAS) and associated FP techniques is rising. Despite the growing demand, there is currently no personalized approach to FP for transgender men, and the available techniques have limitations that require further investigation. In the present review we carefully examine the existing literature on this topic to highlight the shortcomings of current methods and areas where additional research is needed to advance the field. Hormonal therapy (HT), which is an integral part of gender transition in transgender men, can have a significant impact on fertility and may increase the risk of various diseases. Moreover, GAS usually leads to permanent sterility in these patients. Therefore, it is essential to provide patients with accurate information about the benefits and potential risks of different FP techniques, taking into account the patient’s reproductive goals. This review underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of FP in transgender men and emphasizes the need for further research to develop more effective and personalized approaches to FP for this population.
