Successful In Vitro Fertilization in a Cisgender Female Carrier Using Oocytes Retrieved From a Transgender Man Maintained on Testosterone

Abstract

Background: Health care providers routinely discontinue testosterone in transgender men undergoing oocyte retrieval. To date, there is little literature to support such discontinuation. The sudden drop in testosterone levels can be distressing for transgender men. The objective of this report was to describe a case study of successful reciprocal in vitro fertilization (IVF) using oocytes retrieved from a transgender man who remained on testosterone during the entire course of gonadotropin controlled ovarian stimulation and retrieval. Case Report: A 33-year-old gravida 0 transgender man and his partner, a 42-year-old gravida 0 cisgender woman, presented to an outpatient clinic in 2017 seeking reciprocal IVF. Both patients were healthy with no significant past medical history. The transgender patient reported a 10-year history of testosterone hormone therapy. Both patients reported no other medication use. The transgender man underwent a 14-day course of ovarian stimulation before oocytes were retrieved. An oocyte was then fertilized and implanted into the uterus of the patient’s cisgender female partner. The reciprocal IVF resulted in an uncomplicated, full-term pregnancy with vaginal delivery. The child is now 2 years old and developmentally normal. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a live birth from an oocyte retrieved from a transgender man who continued to use testosterone throughout assisted reproduction. Conclusion: Fertility preservation options for transmasculine people may include stimulated egg retrieval if the ovaries are left in place even when the patients remain on testosterone therapy.

Keywords

• IVF
• transgender
• testosterone
• assisted reproduction