Take the first step with fertility testing for transgender patients
The key to designing an effective family-building plan is to understand whether a patient has any fertility issues. That’s why Fertility Specialists of Texas doctors always order diagnostic testing before making any treatment recommendations. Each person is different, so our LGBT fertility clinic offers many forms of testing. One of them is fertility testing for transgender patients, which varies from patient to patient.
Transwomen will often have a semen analysis and bloodwork
The estrogen in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) interferes with testicular function and sperm production. In some cases, function returns after pausing HRT, but this isn’t always the case. As a result, our LGBT fertility clinic team will often offer diagnostic testing for transwomen.
Semen analysis is the most common way to assess sperm quality and quantity. This involves providing a semen sample, typically through masturbation, and having our andrologists in the lab assess it. They will look at factors, including semen volume, sperm count, sperm morphology (shape) and sperm motility (movement).
Bloodwork may also be part of fertility testing for transgender patients. The goal is to assess a patient’s levels of testosterone and other reproductive hormones. The results can help our team determine whether medication is necessary to improve testicular function and fertility.
Fertility testing for transgender patients can also look at the ovaries and the uterus
A transman who wants to conceive will typically undergo a series of tests to learn more about his egg supply and his uterus. The goal is to ensure that the patient has enough good-quality eggs to achieve pregnancy and a healthy uterus where an embryo can implant.
Bloodwork looks at several different hormones to learn more about a patient’s egg supply (ovarian reserve) and potential response to ovarian stimulation medications. Diagnostic testing will typically look at follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH).
Transvaginal ultrasound allows our LGBT fertility clinic team to view the thickness of the uterine lining and detect any uterine abnormalities. It also allows our doctors to take an antral follicle count to learn about a patient’s egg supply. This form of fertility testing for transgender patients occurs in our office a few days before ovulation.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a test that uses a special dye and an X-ray in our office to view the contour of the uterus and determine whether the fallopian tubes are open. Our team places the dye into the uterus through the vagina and watches it on X-ray as it moves through the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Saline infusion sonohysterogram (SIS or SHG) is another imaging test at our office. It also uses a special dye, but it relies on a sonogram as opposed to an X-ray. This test only provides images of the uterus, not the fallopian tubes. As such, it does not take the place of an HSG.
If our team finds any issues after reviewing your diagnostic testing results, we can develop a plan to help you overcome them to have a baby. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about testing.