Assisted reproductive technology outcomes in female-to-male transgender patients compared with cisgender patients: a new frontier in reproductive medicine

Objective: To investigate assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in a female-to-male transgender cohort and compare the results with those of a matched cisgender cohort. Design: Matched retrospective cohort study. Setting: In vitro fertilization clinic. Patient(s): Female-to-male transgender patients (n = 26) who sought care from 2010 to 2018. A cisgender cohort (n = 130) was matched during the same time period by age, body mass index, and antim_ullerian hormone levels. Intervention(s): Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cycle outcomes, including oocyte yield, number of mature oocytes, total gonadotropin dose, and peak E-2 levels. Result(s): The mean number of oocytes retrieved in the transgender group was 19.9 +/- 8.7 compared with 15.9 +/- 9.6 in the cisgender group. Peak E-2 levels were the same between the two groups. The total dose of gonadotropins used was higher in the transgender group compared with the cisgender group (3,892 IU vs. 2,599 IU). Of the 26 patients, 16 performed oocyte banking only. Seven couples had fresh or frozen transfers, with all achieving live births. Conclusion(s): This is the first study of this size investigating ART outcomes in female-to-male transgender patients. The findings may serve to reassure transgender patients and their care providers that outcomes can be excellent even if testosterone therapy has already been initiated. Further investigation needs to be performed on the generalizability of these findings, and whether similar results can be achieved without stopping testosterone therapy. (C) 2019 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)