Table 3. Key takeaway points.

Most patients report interest in FP but only 10% end up pursuing FP

Patients report lack of information, miscommunication and cost as main reasons for not pursuing FP

Transgender healthcare providers feel ill-prepared to discuss FP and most fertility clinics don’t understand the unique psychologic and physiologic realities of transgender patients

Standardized patient education materials and provider training have been shown to increase overall patient satisfaction and increase FP utilization in other patient populations and could provide a model for transgender patients

Transgender individuals have FP options at any/all points during their transition (before GAH, after GAH, at time of confirmation surgery) but risks, outcomes, and present and future costs are not the same, and options warrant discussion with an informed provider. Costs, requirements, and risks associated with use of preserved cells (i.e., future events) should be especially clear

To deal with this uncertainty it is important to cultivate an environment of trust, and knowledgeable, culturally sensitive providers to whom to refer patients—where topics can be discussed freely and honestly

FP, fertility preservation.