Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youths’ Fertility Knowledge in the Context of Pubertal Suppression Treatment
Session Number
Project ID: BHVSO 05
Advisor(s)
Diane Chen, PhD, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Anna Rose Peck-Block, LCSW Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Briahna Yuodsnukis, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
Discipline
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Start Date
17-4-2024 9:20 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 9:35 AM
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa), also known as “puberty blockers”, are used in early pubertal transgender youth who are looking to pause puberty as treatment for gender dysphoria. With pursuing GnRH agonists, the maturation of germ cells does not occur. Without germ cell maturation, future fertility is impaired. Earlier studies have focused on an older cohort of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents and their parents, but no studies have focused on what the younger cohort of TGD youth know about GnRHa and their effects on fertility. We conducted 10 interviews of TGD youth ages 9-13 to answer 4 major questions: (1) what do TGD youth understand about fertility?; (2) what to TGD youth understand about how pubertal suppression treatment works?; (3) what do TGD youth understand about how pubertal suppression treatment affects fertility?; and (4) what do TGD youth think about future family planning? Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. Findings suggest participants lacked a comprehensive understanding of fertility. Youth presented a basic understanding of pubertal suppression but demonstrated variable knowledge of how pubertal suppression treatment affects fertility. Participants generally knew what types of families they wanted in the future. Our findings suggest that there is a need for developmentally informed education and decision-making resources for TGD youth and their parents.
Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youths’ Fertility Knowledge in the Context of Pubertal Suppression Treatment
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa), also known as “puberty blockers”, are used in early pubertal transgender youth who are looking to pause puberty as treatment for gender dysphoria. With pursuing GnRH agonists, the maturation of germ cells does not occur. Without germ cell maturation, future fertility is impaired. Earlier studies have focused on an older cohort of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents and their parents, but no studies have focused on what the younger cohort of TGD youth know about GnRHa and their effects on fertility. We conducted 10 interviews of TGD youth ages 9-13 to answer 4 major questions: (1) what do TGD youth understand about fertility?; (2) what to TGD youth understand about how pubertal suppression treatment works?; (3) what do TGD youth understand about how pubertal suppression treatment affects fertility?; and (4) what do TGD youth think about future family planning? Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. Findings suggest participants lacked a comprehensive understanding of fertility. Youth presented a basic understanding of pubertal suppression but demonstrated variable knowledge of how pubertal suppression treatment affects fertility. Participants generally knew what types of families they wanted in the future. Our findings suggest that there is a need for developmentally informed education and decision-making resources for TGD youth and their parents.