The Desire to have Children and the Preservation of Fertility in Transsexual Women : A Survey

P. De Sutter, K. Kira, A. Verschoor

A survey was conducted among transsexual women to ask their opinion about the option of freezing sperm, before the start of any medical treatment. We received responses from 121 women. The vast majority feel that the availability of freezing sperm should be discussed and offered by the medical world. A smaller majority would indeed have frozen their own sperm, or at least have seriously considered doing so, if this had been an option. Most women in favour of the idea of sperm freezing were under 40 years of age and identified as lesbian or bisexual. A minority of respondents expressed concern about possible risks of genetically transmitting transsexualism to their children, or considered the whole idea of sperm freezing to be in conflict with their female core identity. Many women expressed regret that they could not become pregnant and have a child themselves.