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Delbaere I, De Vos M, Somers S, Condorelli M, Pening D, Bogaerts A, Vandepitte H, Stoop D, Harper J, Mertes H. 'Do I want children later in life?' Reproductive intentions of 1700 adolescents. EUR J CONTRACEP REPR 2024; 29:85-92. [PMID: 38683752 DOI: 10.1080/13625187.2024.2335651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE In the past decades, a positive attitude towards having children has been reported in young people. The current generation of adolescents is increasingly concerned about environmental cataclysm which may have an impact on their desire for children. The purpose of this study is to depict the current attitudes in Flemish adolescents towards having children. MATERIALS AND METHODS All secondary schools in Flanders (Belgium) were invited to distribute an anonymous online survey among their pupils in the last two years of secondary education. In total, 1700 adolescents participated and provided quantitative and qualitative data on their reproductive intentions. RESULTS Most pupils expressed a desire for children (60.2%), 24.7% were undecided and 10.8% were not willing to have children. Significantly more boys than girls would like to have children (67.0% versus 61.7%, p < 0.01). Adolescents who were uncertain about having children or not interested, reported financial reasons and loss of freedom as most important reasons. CONCLUSIONS While most adolescents would like to have children in the future, one in four adolescents is undecided and one in ten indicates a wish to remain childless; reasons for wanting children are rather personal, reasons for not wanting children are rather pragmatic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Delbaere
- VIVES University of Applied Sciences, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Michel De Vos
- Free University Brussels and Brussels IVF, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara Somers
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Margherita Condorelli
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Clinique de Fertilité, Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Pening
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Clinique de Fertilité, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annick Bogaerts
- REALIFE, Department of Development & Regeneration, Women & Child, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Dominic Stoop
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joyce Harper
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Heidi Mertes
- Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Falck FAOK, Dhejne CMU, Frisén LMM, Armuand GM. Subjective Experiences of Pregnancy, Delivery, and Nursing in Transgender Men and Non-Binary Individuals: A Qualitative Analysis of Gender and Mental Health Concerns. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:1981-2002. [PMID: 38228983 PMCID: PMC11106200 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Studies of how gender-diverse individuals experience pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing remain few, mainly focus on the US and contain scarce information about mental health concerns peri-partum. This hinders informed reproductive health decisions and counseling. We used in-depth interviews to examine how gestational gender-diverse individuals in Sweden experience the process of planning and undergoing pregnancy, delivery, and nursing. In total, 12 participants, identifying on the masculine side of the gender spectrum or as non-binary, who had attended Swedish antenatal care and delivered a live birth, were included in the study. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic content analysis. The analysis resulted in one overarching theme: sustaining gender congruence during pregnancy and three main categories: (1) considering pregnancy; (2) undergoing pregnancy and childbirth; and (3) postnatal reflections. The association between childbearing and being regarded as female permeated narratives. Participants renegotiated the feminine connotations of pregnancy, accessed gender-affirming treatment, and concealed their pregnancy to safeguard their gender congruence. Mis-gendering and breast enlargement triggered gender dysphoria. Social judgment, loneliness, information shortages, hormonal influence and cessation of testosterone increased gender dysphoria and strained their mental health. Depression exacerbated gender dysphoria and made it harder to claim one's gender identity. Dissociation was used to handle a feminized body, vaginal delivery, and nursing. Pregnancy was easier to envision and handle after masculinizing gender-affirming treatments. The results deepen the understanding of gender dysphoria and may be used to inform reproductive counseling and healthcare development. Research outcomes on mental health concerns provide a basis for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas A O K Falck
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Psychiatry Southwest, Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Cecilia M U Dhejne
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louise M M Frisén
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gabriela M Armuand
- School of Health and Welfare, Faculty of Health Sciences 1, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
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Le K, Trivedi A, Needleman A, Hunter K, Gaughan J, Gutmann J, Fischer R. The availability and type of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer content on sperm, oocyte, and embryo provider websites. J Assist Reprod Genet 2023:10.1007/s10815-023-02867-z. [PMID: 37410222 PMCID: PMC10371958 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02867-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate and quantify the character and amount of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ +) content on sperm, oocyte, and embryo provider websites in the USA. METHODS Websites with LGBTQ + information were categorized into "minimal," "moderate," and "significant" content. The presence and type (category) of LGBTQ + content were assessed in its relationship to geographic regions, in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles/year, and website types. Interobserver reliability was assessed for the categorization system created. RESULTS Out of 373 unique websites, 191 (51.2%) had LGBTQ + content of any kind. Regarding the amount of content, websites were categorized as "none" (48.8%), "minimal" (8.0%), "moderate" (28.4%), and "significant" (14.8%). "Private fertility clinic" websites were more likely to have LGBTQ + content and a significantly increased amount of content compared to other website types ("academic hospital" and "sole sperm, oocyte, and embryo provider" websites) (p < 0.0001). Fertility clinics with more IVF cycles/year were more likely to have increased amount of LGBTQ + content compared to those with fewer IVF cycles/year (OR = 4.280; 95% CI, 1.952-9.388). Northeast, West, South, and Midwest regions showed no statistically significant difference in presence and type of content (p = 0.06 and p = 0.13, respectively). CONCLUSION Approximately half of websites had LGBTQ + content. Private fertility clinics and fertility clinics with increased IVF cycles/year show a positive relationship to the presence and type of LGBTQ + content, while LGBTQ + website content was similar across four geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Le
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cooper University Healthcare, Camden, NJ, USA.
- Cooper University Healthcare, 1301 N Front St., Unit D, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
| | - Aditi Trivedi
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Virtua Health, Vorhees Township, NJ, USA
| | | | - Krystal Hunter
- Research & Statistics, Cooper University Healthcare, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - John Gaughan
- Research & Statistics, Cooper University Healthcare, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Jacqueline Gutmann
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Reproductive Medical Associates, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Richard Fischer
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cooper University Healthcare, Camden, NJ, USA
- Cooper University Healthcare, 1301 N Front St., Unit D, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
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Lambert A, Pratt A, Conard LAE, Grigg Dean E, Page E, Vaughn LM, Lipstein EA. Supporting Gender-Related Medical Decision Making for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals: A Scoping Review. Transgend Health 2023; 8:113-123. [PMID: 37013094 PMCID: PMC10066778 DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2021.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals and their families face numerous challenging decisions. To better understand their decision processes, we conducted a scoping review of the existing literature and of decision-support tools in use at pediatric gender-care clinics. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus CINAHL, PsychINFO, and EBM Reviews for studies that were original research focused on decisions, decision making, or decision support for TGD individuals and/or their families. All studies were reviewed for inclusion by at least two researchers. Additionally, we reviewed clinical tools used to support decision making by TGD youth and their families. Results We retrieved 3306 articles. Thirty-two met criteria for data extraction. Studies focused on three major decisions: gender-confirming surgery, fertility preservation, and gender-affirming hormone therapy. Several themes that cut across clinical topics emerged: decision-making processes, decision-making roles, and sources of decision support. Only three articles focused on decision-support interventions, two of which discussed development of support tools and one evaluated a class designed to help with surgical decision making. None of the clinical tools reviewed met criteria for a decision aid. Conclusions There is a dearth of studies related to decision support interventions, an absence validated by the resources currently in clinical use. This scoping review suggests an opportunity for the development of tools to aid in the decision-making processes for TGD youth and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Lambert
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ashli Pratt
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Lee Ann E. Conard
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Elaine Grigg Dean
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Erica Page
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa M. Vaughn
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ellen A. Lipstein
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Bonan S, Chapel-Lardic E, Rosenblum O, Dudkiewicz-Sibony C, Chamouard L, Wolf JP, Thiounn N, Condat A, Chalas C, Patrat C, Mendes N, Drouineaud V. Characteristics and intentions of heterosexual couples comprising a transgender man awaiting sperm donation to conceive a child. Andrology 2021; 9:1799-1807. [PMID: 34467677 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than half of transgender (TG) men wish to have children. Until recently, TG people in France were rarely offered gamete donation, mainly because the Bioethics Law allows the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) only in infertile couples. The only option currently available for heterosexual couples with a TG man is ART with sperm donation. The Center for Study and Preservation of Eggs and Sperm (CECOS) of the Cochin Hospital is the first French center to propose sperm donation to such couples, and has done so since 1999. OBJECTIVES To determine the main characteristics and intentions of 43 couples, including a TG man and his cisgender female partner awaiting sperm donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was carried out on the records from October 2010 to December 2019, of 43 couples with a TG man who applied for sperm donation at the CECOS of the Cochin Hospital (Paris, France). RESULTS The mean age of TG men and cisgender women was 32 ± 6.6 and 29.7 ± 4.6 years, respectively. In 77% of cases, the couple met before the man's transition. Eighty-one percent of the couples were in a stable relationship for at least 3 years, and 94% wished to have a child for no more than 5 years. Almost all of the couples (95%) intended to inform their child of their conception by sperm donation and the father's transidentity (92%). DISCUSSION Due to restrictive French legislation, the profile of our couples probably does not reflect that of all couples consisting of a TG man and a cisgender woman. The study took place over a long period of time and the characteristics of the couples could probably change over time. CONCLUSION The couples often met before the man's transition, cohabited for several years, intended to inform their child of sperm donation and the father's transidentity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bonan
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Emeline Chapel-Lardic
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ouriel Rosenblum
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Hôpital Universitaire La Pitié - Salpétrière, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Dudkiewicz-Sibony
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Laura Chamouard
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Wolf
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Thiounn
- Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Service d'Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Condat
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Hôpital Universitaire La Pitié - Salpétrière, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Céline Chalas
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Patrat
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Mendes
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Hôpital Universitaire La Pitié - Salpétrière, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Véronique Drouineaud
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Centre, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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