Current Match Time:
If you're on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and thinking about building a family, you're probably wondering if it's too late for egg freezing as a trans man.
You might be early in your gender-affirming care or well into your transition. Understanding your fertility preservation options can help you make informed decisions about your future.
In this guide, we'll walk through how HRT affects your fertility, how the egg freezing process work and what emotional challenges may arise. For more information about building your family post-transition, fill out our online form.
No, you cannot freeze your eggs while actively taking testosterone. Testosterone suppresses ovulation and significantly alters your menstrual cycle, making it nearly impossible to retrieve viable eggs during hormone therapy. To pursue egg freezing for trans men, you would need to temporarily stop HRT. Pausing testosterone requires careful planning and medical supervision. The success of egg retrieval after pausing depends on several factors, including how long you've been on HRT, your age and how your body responds to stopping hormones. Some trans men successfully freeze eggs after being on testosterone for years, while others may face more challenges. Your fertility specialist will work with you to determine the best approach based on your individual circumstances and medical history.Can You Freeze Your Eggs After Starting Testosterone?
How HRT Affects Fertility in Trans Men
Testosterone is not guaranteed to make you infertile permanently. Many trans men who pause hormone therapy are still able to produce viable eggs for freezing or IVF.
That said, long-term use of testosterone may reduce your ovarian reserve or impact egg quality. The effects can vary significantly from person to person. That’s why working with a fertility specialist is so important. They can assess your hormone levels and ovarian function to determine next steps.
Pausing testosterone can be physically and emotionally challenging. Here’s what to expect: Return of your menstrual cycle Breast tenderness Hormonal shifts that may affect your energy, sleep and appetite Dysphoria due to re-emerging feminine traits Mood swings or anxiety A general sense of discomfort with body changes This part of the process isn’t easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. You can work with a fertility counselor or join support groups for people with similar experiences. Your mental health matters just as much as your reproductive goals. Most providers recommend stopping testosterone for at least three to six months before starting the egg retrieval cycle. This gives your ovaries time to resume activity. Every body responds differently, so your provider will monitor your hormone levels to guide timing.What to Expect When Pausing HRT for Egg Freezing
Physical Side Effects
Emotional Side Effects
How Long to Be Off Testosterone Prior to Egg Retrieval
Steps in the Egg Freezing Process for Trans Men
The egg freezing process for trans men follows several key steps:
Your fertility specialist will review your medical history, discuss your goals and create a personalized treatment plan. This includes determining when to stop testosterone and what fertility medications you'll need. Once you've been off testosterone long enough for your cycles to return, you'll begin fertility medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This phase involves frequent monitoring through blood tests and ultrasounds. When your eggs are mature, they're retrieved through a minor surgical procedure. The eggs are then frozen using advanced techniques that preserve their viability for future use.
Once you have frozen eggs, you have several options for using them to build your family. IVF with frozen eggs involves thawing the eggs, fertilizing them with sperm (from a partner or donor) and creating embryos. These embryos can then be transferred to your uterus or to a gestational surrogate. Working with a gestational surrogate provides a path to biological parenthood while allowing you to continue your hormone therapy and avoid pregnancy. This option can be especially meaningful if carrying a pregnancy yourself feels physically or emotionally overwhelming. Finding the right surrogacy agency is crucial for a positive experience. American Surrogacy’s LGBTQ+ surrogacy programs are designed to support trans and nonbinary parents. When you’re ready, you can be matched with a carefully screened surrogate. If freezing your own eggs isn’t the right path for you, or if fertility tests show it’s not possible, using donor eggs is another great option. When choosing a donor, you’ll consider health history, physical traits and personal characteristics. Your agency and fertility clinic can help you navigate every step.Using Frozen Eggs with IVF and Surrogacy
Finding Donor Eggs for Surrogacy
How American Surrogacy Supports Trans Men in Family Planning
At American Surrogacy, we believe that you deserve a path to parenthood that affirms your identity. We’ve helped many LGBTQ+ individuals and couples build their families through surrogacy.
Whether you’re just starting to explore fertility preservation or already have frozen eggs, our team is here to walk with you. We can help you find an LGBTQ+-affirming fertility clinic or start the surrogate matching process.