Has anyone here ever stopped female hormones after a few years in order to save their sperm in a sperm bank? I have been on hormones and t blocker since 2007. I thought about the sperm bank option back then, but I didn't have the money.
Since my mom passed away five months ago, I have been grieving tremendously because she was only 56. My thought turned to sperm bank because having my own genetically related children would be the only way to allow my mom to be passed down to another generation after myself.
I want to see her in my own children.
In reality, there is very little chances that I would end up having my own biological children because I am not attracted to women and I would most likely adopt even if I found myself suitable to be a mom one day, which I am really not at this time (or may never be)
It would be the most unpleasant feeling to stop hormones and I don't really want to go through that. But it's an option and its nice to know the possibility exist for me.
My doctor said there's always a chance that I could produce sperm again after 2 months of stopping hormones but they will have to do a test. He said its not likely that the sperm would be damaged but no one knows for sure until the baby is born.
I just wonder if anyone has any thought on this subject? Will the physical changes after stopping hormones for two weeks be traumatizing?
Does anyone know if years of hormones can lead to increased sperm deformities afterward?
Is the cost worth it?
How easy is it to find a surrogate mother?
You are permanently sterile now. It is possible to have some up to 4-6 months, but after years no. Even if you stop HRT the damage is done. I do feel for you, but sperm banking must be done before HRT.
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on July 17, 2014, 04:21:05 PM
You are permanently sterile now. It is possible to have some up to 4-6 months, but after years no. Even if you stop HRT the damage is done. I do feel for you, but sperm banking must be done before HRT.
Now that's not 100% fact. Our bodies are surprisingly durable. So the possibility is there, it's just not good odds.
Quote from: HeatherR on July 17, 2014, 04:30:34 PM
Now that's not 100% fact. Our bodies are surprisingly durable. So the possibility is there, it's just not good odds.
I apologize. Facts are 94.68% you are, my bad!!
I know off a couple cases where someone quit after several years of HRT and impregnated someone, but it is definitely not the way to bet.
Several years maybe, 7 years very unlikely
Is a single sperm capable of being made? Probably. Can a Single sperm fertilize an egg? Certainly.
The issue is, guys with low sperm counts have issues all of the time getting a woman pregnant...I would imagine, that if any sperm production is to be had it would be incredibly small. So very unlikely to be useable. Possible I would imagine, but unlikely.
I sympathize. I lost my mother this year too she was 53. We weren't terribly close, but the thought did run through my mind of a legacy, but I decided that other siblings would be plenty fine seeing as they reproduced in large numbers already, and I am not sure I want children anyway, sometimes I really do, then other times I really don't.
My therapist keeps mentioning a client who was on hormones for 4 years, stopped, and successfully had a kid. She did have to stop hormones for several months to become fertile again and the lack of hormones was very dysphoric.
Is it possible? Yes.
Is it likely/easy? Not really at 7 years.
Is it worth trying? Depends on the individual, how bad initial dysphotia was, how badly they want genetic offspring, etc.
One last point: even if you do regain fertility by stopping hormones, the sperm banking process kills 50-80% of whatever you do produce. So it may be necessary to use some other (non freezing) method.
I guess that's all sort of good and bad news...
Thank you ladies. I guess theres no way to know for sure. 4 to 6 months without female hormones is death! lol I am on spironolactone, not Androcur, if that makes a difference.
Hikari: It's the most horrible thing, isn't it? I am so close with my mother, and the feeling of enormous loss and grief is just beyond words.
xponentialshift: Sounds complicated...not good. lol
After 7 years I would be willing to say that most people here would have a better chance making a 500 yard shot in a hurricane. I was only on hormones for about 4 months, have been off for a year and still have 25% normal sperm production and they are "extremely immobile" when compared to a normal sperm cell.
But keep in mind everyone is different and there may be that 1in 10,000,000 people that can reproduce up until surgery. My suggestion is to see a reproduction specialist and have them look at your goo. Worst case is your completely sterile, but there is always adoption.
I am sorry that you are facing this hurdle. In part this is why I wait so long to seek therapy and why I forced myself to have children in the end :(
Whilst their mother was incredibly attractive I did not date her for anything other than the fact I might produce off spring. I am glad I did but before I start hrt I will be storing some as I love raising children and I am very paternal.
Do not give up though as there is always hope.
Really sorry for you, and sorry about your mother.
Unfortunately, as many have said, you are in all likelihood completely sterile at this point. You can always give it a shot though, sometimes people beat the odds.
My doctor said that if I wanted to bank sperm that I would have to do it before she would start my HRT. I did so and am satisfied that should I want to try to have a child with a partner via artificial insemination the amount saved should allow for a few shots at it. (Pun not intended.) I have not gone back to the clinic after 10 months Spiro and 8 months Estrace but I'm willing to bet I'm already sterile. Given the low likelihood of me starting a child-rearing relationship I'm not terribly concerned but at least I have a chance. I may attempt another banking, more to see the results of the hormonal changes than anything else.
I hear you about the mom thing and the legacy thing. I think I did the banking mostly so my mom still thought there was a slim chance I'd give her a grandkid. Pretty certain she hoped I'd be the one to do that out of me and my siblings. I also didn't want to feel like I was a genetic dead-end. I'll gladly hold on to lottery-worthy odds at parenting rather than toss away my options.