Gay couples having babies has become the norm… but what about a transgender man who has been given the opportunity to use his own eggs to have a biological baby. Science has now allowed transgender people to be biological parents to their own children. Dr. Shahin Ghadir at the Southern California Reproductive Center is at the forefront of helping transgender people have their own biological babies by freezing their eggs before they medically transition. This allows a genetic connection with their children, which is very important to many people.
Dr. Ghadir has a transgender patient who is willing to share his story and the decision to freeze his eggs while he was still a woman.
Meet Spencer Sweat, a transgender man who had given up on the idea of having his own biological child, but who is now preparing for exactly that.
While assigned female gender at birth, Spencer knew at an early age that it was a mistake. His sense of self was male. His hair had been cut short since age 6. He underwent breast reduction surgery at age 16. But it wasn’t until he was in his 20’s, newly commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force that he felt the need to pursue a medical transition. He started saving for the surgery, and was finally ready for his first consultation with a doctor at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
He was shocked when the doctor asked if he wanted to freeze his genetic material for future use, prior to beginning hormone therapy. Sweat had thought about children, but figured adoption was the answer. He also had considered having children with a lesbian partner, but always assumed it would involve donor material. He figured that would have to be “enough.” He said, “no babies or breastfeeding for me, but at least we could have babies for us.”
But now, he had another option, one he couldn’t pass up, even though he was concerned that the expense would delay his transition. Sweat says, “My gut told me this was to be part of my transition no matter the price. Like anybody I want to be a parent, and more than anything I want to be a father. I had to try.”
Sweat reached out to the Southern California Reproductive Center and staff members assured him they could help. He says their excitement and commitment has provided him with a means to move forward, without forfeiting his future as a man. He says, “I will try to have a family and still be able to become the man I’ve always been and I am excited to see what the future brings.”
