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Fertility options for trans men and non-binary people
We support transgender and non-binary people to become parents. Every family and fertility journey is unique, and we’re here to help you build yours in a way that’s right for you.
Learn about the fertility options available including fertility preservation, natural conception, IVF, finding an egg or sperm donor, surrogacy, and where to turn to for more support.
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Fertility treatments for trans men and non-binary people
Trans men, non-binary people, co-parents and poly families have many options for starting a family or preserving their fertility for the future.
We’re here to help you find the path that’s right for you.
Your options typically depend on whether you’ve had any gender-affirming treatment, and your age.
Before you start a treatment, a fertility assessment will help us understand which options are best for you.
Here are the treatments we currently have for trans men and non-binary people.
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Fertility preservation for trans men and non-binary people
If you’re having gender-affirming treatment or are planning on it, then it’s worth thinking about your future fertility options.
Fertility preservation means freezing your gametes or reproductive tissue. For trans men or non-binary people with eggs, you'll have to undergo a partial IVF cycle to collect your eggs for freezing.
How transgender fertility preservation works
Fertility preservation means freezing your gametes or reproductive tissue.
At all TFP Fertility clinics, we use advanced freezing technology called vitrification.
We can then safely store your samples for up to 55 years so that you can use them in the future if you decide to have children.
We’d recommend freezing your gametes sooner rather than later. From the age of 35, fertility reduces rapidly for people registered as female at birth.
A fertility assessment will show us if you have fertile gametes that can be frozen for future use.
We recommend that fertility preservation happens before you start gender-affirming treatment, however, it may still be possible to preserve your fertility after.
This does mean postponing or temporarily stopping hormone treatment, which can be a difficult decision.
Learn more about fertility preservation.
Fertility treatments for trans men or non-binary people
Not all transgender men or non-binary people will need fertility treatment to become pregnant.
Whether you need treatment, and which ones are available will depend on:
Your fertility status
Whether you had your womb or ovaries removed
If you previously froze your gametes
Hormone therapy and age are two factors that may lower your fertility.
In this case, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.
A fertility assessment helps to understand your fertility status and which treatments right for you.
Natural pregnancy for trans men and non-binary people
If you still have your womb and ovaries and want to carry a pregnancy, then you may be able to do this naturally, or with the help of intrauterine insemination (IUI).
If you choose this route and you’re taking hormone therapy, it’s worth discussing this with your gender clinic, your GP, or a fertility specialist.
A fertility assessment measures how many gametes you have (ovarian reserve) and their quality.
This helps to understand whether you’re able to conceive without fertility treatment.
IUI for trans men and non-binary people
If sex isn’t an option for conceiving, then another possibility is intrauterine insemination.
This is when semen is carefully injected into the womb.
IUI can be helpful when you’re:
Using a sperm donor
Conceiving with a partner or co-parent who has low sperm quality
Not able to have penetrative sex with a partner
Learn about the differences between IUI at a licensed fertility clinic and home insemination, including medical and legal considerations.
IVF for trans men and non-binary people
Another option is to conceive with IVF using your fresh or frozen gametes, or using an egg donor.
This is where gamete production (ovulation) is stimulated with fertility medicine.
The gametes are then mixed with sperm in a lab to create an embryo, to put back into the womb to develop.
You can have IVF using sperm from a sperm donor, who can be from a sperm bank or someone you know.
You can also use gametes that you previously froze during fertility preservation.
ICSI for trans men and non-binary people
ICSI is a type of IVF where one single sperm is injected into an egg in the lab to create an embryo.
ICSI may be recommended if your partner, co-parent or sperm donor has a low sperm quality.
Surrogacy
If you’ve had your ovaries removed and did not freeze your gametes, or if you do not have a womb, you could explore using an egg donor or full surrogacy instead.
Surrogacy is when a female carries and gives birth to your child, either using your gametes, their own eggs or donor eggs. When a surrogate uses someone else’s eggs, it's called gestational or full surrogacy.
This can be an option for trans men who are unable to carry a pregnancy, or who prefer not to go through pregnancy for personal reasons.
A surrogate can use your gametes so that you have a biological connection to the baby. At TFP Fertility, we only support surrogacy where gametes from at least one of the intended parents are used. This means you can’t use donor eggs and donor sperm together.
The surrogate can be someone you know, or a surrogacy agency can help you find the right person for you.
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Using a gamete donor
There are many reasons you might decide to use a gamete donor as a trans or non-binary person.
These include:
Not wanting to stop hormone therapy
Having had gender-affirming surgery
Fertility challenges
Using a surrogate
We’re here to help you explore your options for finding the right donor for you.
Finding a sperm donor
We can help you find a sperm donor for fertility treatment, including IVF, IUI, or surrogacy.
This can be through our own sperm bank or from other trusted sources in the UK or abroad.
To help you choose your ideal match, we'll give you as much information about your donor as possible.
You can also use a known donor. This is when someone you know, such as a family member or friend, donates their sperm to you.
We make sure any potential donor has all the appropriate tests for infections, diseases, and genetic conditions.
We can support you through this process and make sure you find the right donor for you.
Find out more about using donor sperm.
Finding an egg donor
We can help you find an egg donor for fertility treatment, including IVF or surrogacy.
All our donors meet strict qualifying criteria to give the best chance of success.
We also carry out screening tests and conduct a full medical history to protect your surrogate and future child.
You can also use an egg from a donor that you know, such as a friend, relative or co-parent. The eggs still need to be medically screened to keep everyone safe.
To help you choose your ideal match, we'll give you as much information about your donor as possible.
Learn more about using an egg donor.
Support and more resources
There can be a lot to think about when exploring fertility treatment as an LGBTQ+ person. Find support resources dedicated to you.
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Counselling and support groups
More support for navigating the practical or emotional side of fertility treatment.
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Legal and funding FAQs
More on legal parenthood, using a surrogate, and funding options.
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Home insemination
Everything you need to know about home insemination, including the legal and medical risks.
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Speak to us today
It’s important to us to give you the most personalised and compassionate fertility care in a safe and inclusive space.
Any questions or feedback, or want to discuss your fertility treatment options, or book an appointment?
Reach out using our contact form and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.