Semen Parameters Among Transgender Women With a History of Hormonal Treatment

The study investigated the impact of gender-affirming hormonal treatment on semen quality in 28 transgender women who had sought semen cryopreservation. It was found that semen volume, concentration, percent motility, and total motile count were significantly lower in patients on hormonal medication at the time of specimen collection compared to those who had never used it or had discontinued its use. The median discontinuation period for those who stopped medication before specimen collection was 4.4 months. The study included 69 specimens, with 41 collected before medication, 15 after discontinuation, and 13 while on medication. The results suggest that discontinuing gender-affirming medication can lead to an improvement in semen parameters and that transgender women should consider sperm cryopreservation before starting hormonal treatment. The study's small sample size and retrospective design limit the ability to draw definitive conclusions and indicate a need for further research. Clinicians are advised to counsel transgender women on the potential fertility impacts of gender-affirming hormones.