Anti androgens and fertility

[Rena]

I'm 20 years old.

What would the effect of only taking anti-androgen drugs be? Do they make you permanently infertile? I want to have my own children some day but I also want to transition.

[stephaniec]

it seems the most common approach to this situation is sperm banking

[Caitlyn]

I don't know any specifics, and I'm obviously not a doctor, so everything from me is just heresay, but: I've heard that people often have their sperm or eggs frozen before starting transition in case they want to use them later on. I'd assume that this means that HRT causes infertility. Again, not a doctor, this is all heresay, etc.

[Oriah]

after over a year of antiandrogens and estrogen, we tried to get pregnant.  I came off my antiandrogens (but not my estrogen) for a two week period, and we made love twice a day during that time....and it worked.  The proof is right next to me with applesauce all over his face

but ymmv.

[RosieD]

You could be looking at becoming infertile or damaged sperm or no effect whatsoever. The only way to be certain is to bank it before starting HRT. You don't want to be on an anti-androgen without some form of estrogen for any prolonged period of time as your body needs either testosterone or estrogen to keep your bones in good shape and prevent osteoporosis.

Rosie

[Rena]

after over a year of antiandrogens and estrogen, we tried to get pregnant.  I came off my antiandrogens (but not my estrogen) for a two week period, and we made love twice a day during that time....and it worked.  The proof is right next to me with applesauce all over his face

but ymmv.

I just want to ask you some questions since I'm going to be in a similar position as you are probably within 10 years.

How many years ago did you start transitioning?

Did you meet your significant other before or after you started transitioning? If before how well did she take it at first? If after did she know right away you were trans or did you have to tell her?

What do other people around you think of your family? Do you pass very well and people see you as a lesbian couple or can most people tell you're a biological male?

[Oriah]

I just want to ask you some questions since I'm going to be in a similar position as you are probably within 10 years.

How many years ago did you start transitioning?

Did you meet your significant other before or after you started transitioning? If before how well did she take it at first? If after did she know right away you were trans or did you have to tell her?

What do other people around you think of your family? Do you pass very well and people see you as a lesbian couple or can most people tell you're a biological male?

I started transitioning six years ago, but I've only been on hormones three years

I met my partner after I started transition......she knew right away that I was trans.

Other people have mixed opinions of my family, some people see us as a cute family and think it's wonderful that two lesbians have a baby.  I pass well almost all the time, so we are seen as typical lesbians, but I don't hide the fact that I'm the biological father, although most people don't get it.  We were asked in the hospital who the father was.  I said I was....the OBGYN thought that that was my role in the family and asked again "but who's the REAL father?" again I said me.  He gets flustered and asks "Who is the BIOLOGICAL father?"  I responded again that I was......it took him another two minutes to figure it all out.....then he thought it was pretty cool. 

Everyone's reactions are different....I suppose all gay couples with children deal with the same thing

[Rena]

I started transitioning six years ago, but I've only been on hormones three years

I met my partner after I started transition......she knew right away that I was trans.

Other people have mixed opinions of my family, some people see us as a cute family and think it's wonderful that two lesbians have a baby.  I pass well almost all the time, so we are seen as typical lesbians, but I don't hide the fact that I'm the biological father, although most people don't get it.  We were asked in the hospital who the father was.  I said I was....the OBGYN thought that that was my role in the family and asked again "but who's the REAL father?" again I said me.  He gets flustered and asks "Who is the BIOLOGICAL father?"  I responded again that I was......it took him another two minutes to figure it all out.....then he thought it was pretty cool. 

Everyone's reactions are different....I suppose all gay couples with children deal with the same thing

Thank you very much for the response. I just have one more question. Are you ever going to tell your child that you are the biological father? If so at what age? 

When I transition I know 100% that I'm going to pass perfectly since I already pass very well even without estrogen/ffs surgery. My child would never figure it out if I don't tell. I don't know if it's immoral to never tell my future child or not.

[Rena]

You could be looking at becoming infertile or damaged sperm or no effect whatsoever. The only way to be certain is to bank it before starting HRT. You don't want to be on an anti-androgen without some form of estrogen for any prolonged period of time as your body needs either testosterone or estrogen to keep your bones in good shape and prevent osteoporosis.

Rosie

I forgot about the impact sex specific hormones have on bone health. Thanks for reminding me. I guess this thread is null and void now.

Even if bone health wasn't a factor I suppose it isn't wise to play with the chance of having low quality sperm/infertility.

Thanks for responding everyone.

[Oriah]

Thank you very much for the response. I just have one more question. Are you ever going to tell your child that you are the biological father? If so at what age? 

When I transition I know 100% that I'm going to pass perfectly since I already pass very well even without estrogen/ffs surgery. My child would never figure it out if I don't tell. I don't know if it's immoral to never tell my future child or not.

I intend on him knowing as early as he's capable of understanding.....just because I'm the father doesn't mean I can't be his mama

[Jenna Marie]

It depends, but they *can.* I took low-dose estrogen-only HRT throughout (no anti-androgens, which are generally considered much MORE damaging to fertility than estrogen) and by 3 years on, I was declared permanently sterile by the pathologist looking at my testicles. You can't go into HRT assuming there's a chance you'll stay fertile; you might, but if you don't plan for the worst-case scenario you could be very disappointed.

[Jill F]

I've heard of a case where the testicles were pretty much utterly wiped out in six months and another where they became functional again after 10 years HRT.

YMMV!  And you can bank on that.

[Rena]

It depends, but they *can.* I took low-dose estrogen-only HRT throughout (no anti-androgens, which are generally considered much MORE damaging to fertility than estrogen) and by 3 years on, I was declared permanently sterile by the pathologist looking at my testicles. You can't go into HRT assuming there's a chance you'll stay fertile; you might, but if you don't plan for the worst-case scenario you could be very disappointed.

How exactly did they determine that you were permanently infertile? How do they know that there's no chance whatsoever it would be possible to become fertile again?

[Jenna Marie]

Rena : I'm not 100% sure how, since this is not my specialty, but pathologist means they actually dissected my testicles and examined them microscopically (after GRS, looking for abnormalities like cancer etc. that I might want to be aware of, which was actually a nice touch from the surgeon/hospital). I'm willing to trust that an expert could determine that they had atrophied or otherwise become nonfunctional. Pathologists make that sort of permanent-damage determination about organs a lot, I think.

"Permanently not functioning" was the literal phrase used, except in French... meaning no testosterone, no sperm, and therefore no fertility. I was OK with it.

[Yukari-sensei]

after over a year of antiandrogens and estrogen, we tried to get pregnant.  I came off my antiandrogens (but not my estrogen) for a two week period, and we made love twice a day during that time....and it worked.  The proof is right next to me with applesauce all over his face

but ymmv.

Given the fact I'm finding banking is out of my reach financially, thank you for sharing that with us. It gives me great hope that my wife and I may still have children.

[Androgynous_Machine]

On this topic, will doctors be hesitant to prescrib anti androgens if you aren't already a parent?

I'm 32, I've no desire whatsoever to be a parent and I don't want to be second guessed by a doctor or be required to pay more money for sperm banking that I'll have utterly no use for.


-AM