Open AccessPredicting successful sperm retrieval in transfeminine adolescents after testicular biopsy
Author(s) -
Angus Peri,
Astrid Ahler,
Debra A. Gook,
Michele A O’Connell,
Harold Bourne,
Michael Nightingale,
Michelle Telfer,
Yasmin Jayasinghe,
Ken C Pang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of assisted reproduction and genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1573-7330
pISSN - 1058-0468
DOI - 10.1007/s10815-021-02293-z
Subject(s) - sperm retrieval , fertility preservation , medicine , sperm , biopsy , gynecology , testicular sperm extraction , fertility , testosterone (patch) , andrology , infertility , azoospermia , biology , population , pregnancy , genetics , environmental health
Increasing numbers of transgender adolescents are receiving gender-affirming treatments (GAT). Given GAT can impair reproductive function, clinical guidelines advise prior counselling regarding fertility preservation (FP). For transgender adults assigned male at birth, FP is usually achieved via a masturbatory sample and sperm cryopreservation. This is less straightforward in transgender adolescents, since they may not be developmentally ready to masturbate and/or masturbation may cause unacceptable gender dysphoria. Testicular biopsy represents an alternative method for sperm retrieval in these adolescents, but for those in early/mid puberty, it is difficult to predict whether sperm will be found. The purpose of this study was therefore to identify factors that predict successful sperm retrieval for cryopreservation via testicular biopsy.