Ep 04: Fertility & Family Planning

How many trans & gender-diverse folks are interested in parenthood? How does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect fertility, contraception and family planning? What kinds of fertility preservation options are available? And what is it like to experience pregnancy as a trans person? We talk all things family planning! 

2026 Update from Dr. Cockwell: Technology has progressed since this recording, and AART now offers both ovarian and testicular tissue cryopreservation for folks taking puberty blockers!

Featuring: 

• Dr. Heather Cockwell (she/her)
• Dr. Elgin Pecjak (he/him)
• Forrest Sandifer (he/him) - @groovyshroom

Timestamps:

• 00:50 - Canada’s history of forced sterilization
• 01:41 - Ethics of reproductive care access for trans folks
• 03:09 - Coverage and barriers to fertility care 
• 06:04 - How many trans people want to parent & what kinds of parenthood are they interested in?
• 14:53 - How puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy impact fertility + fertility preservation options
• 27:32 - Pregnancy experiences of trans folks
• 29:30 - Forrest Sandifer: trans experience of pregnancy, perinatal care, and parenting
• 37:50 - Contraception for patients on gender-affirming hormone therapy

Resources:

• Forrest’s CBC Article
• RHO Guidelines that include costs of fertility treatment
• Conceivable: book about queer family in Canada 
• Queer Conception
• Baby Making for Everybody 
• Contraception Counseling for Transgender Patients Assigned Female at Birth

Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod

Instagram: @genderqueriespod

Recording dates: Oct 2024 (Dr. Cockwell), Jan 2025 (Forrest), July 2025 (Dr. Pecjak)