Oocyte Cryopreservation in a Transgender Male Adolescent

This correspondence describes a multidisciplinary approach to oocyte cryopreservation in a 16-year-old transgender male adolescent receiving gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy to suppress puberty. Despite concerns about incomplete pubertal development (Tanner stage 2), the patient opted to continue GnRH therapy during oocyte retrieval. Transabdominal ultrasonography and hormonal stimulation yielded four mature oocytes for cryopreservation. The procedure caused distressing side effects, including vaginal bleeding and transient breast development, which exacerbated gender dysphoria and triggered depressive symptoms. The case underscores the need for comprehensive counseling on fertility preservation risks (e.g., psychological distress, limited oocyte yield) and benefits in transgender youth, balancing medical goals with patient autonomy and mental health.

This correspondence describes a multidisciplinary approach to oocyte cryopreservation in a 16-year-old transgender male adolescent receiving gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy to suppress puberty. Despite concerns about incomplete pubertal development (Tanner stage 2), the patient opted to continue GnRH therapy during oocyte retrieval. Transabdominal ultrasonography and hormonal stimulation yielded four mature oocytes for cryopreservation. The procedure caused distressing side effects, including vaginal bleeding and transient breast development, which exacerbated gender dysphoria and triggered depressive symptoms. The case underscores the need for comprehensive counseling on fertility preservation risks (e.g., psychological distress, limited oocyte yield) and benefits in transgender youth, balancing medical goals with patient autonomy and mental health.