Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB)
If you are assigned male at birth (AMAB) post-puberty, under 40 years old, and have not previously had any children, it is recommended you store gametes (i.e. freeze sperm) before commencing oestrogen-based hormone therapy as you are likely to become irreversibly infertile. This is a funded service and includes storage for up to 10 years. This is not a requirement to start hormones.
You have the option to discontinue oestrogen treatment in the future, but this is not regarded as a method of restoring fertility.
Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB)
If you are assigned female at birth (AFAB) and wish to commence testosterone-based hormone therapy the long term effects on fertility are not clear. Testosterone stops the ovaries from working and it is not known whether this is reversible or not.
If you wish to carry a pregnancy in the future, you will need to stop testosterone as it is harmful to a developing fetus. After stopping testosterone your fertility could return allowing you to become pregnant without assistance. However, it may not return, and you may not be able to become pregnant without fertility assistance.
Egg harvesting and storage can be funded if you are under 40 years old, have not previously had any children, and are about to have your reproductive organs removed (i.e. ovaries). If you meet this criteria and wish to do this, request a referral from your GP to Fertility Associates.
Testosterone-based hormone therapy is not recommended as an effective contraceptive.
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