Transgender Youth Fertility Attitudes Questionnaire: Measure Development in Nonautistic and Autistic Transgender Youth and Their Parents

John F. Strang, Jason Jarin, David Call, Brett Clark, Gregory L. Wallace, Laura G. Anthony, Lauren Kenworthy, Veronica Gomez-Lobo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess transgender youth and parent attitudes regarding (1) the potential impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on fertility and (2) fertility preservation (FP) options. Methods: The Transgender Youth Fertility Attitudes Questionnaire was developed through a multistage participatory process with gender specialists and key stakeholders (transgender youth and their parents, N = 35). As up to 25% of youth gender referrals have co-occurring autism, measure development included a well-characterized supplementary sample of autistic transgender youth to maximize the applicability of the questionnaire. Following its development and refinement, the Transgender Youth Fertility Attitudes Questionnaire was pilot tested with transgender youth (nonautistic and autistic) and their parents (N = 51). Results: The participatory process produced parallel child and parent questionnaires addressing fertility and FP knowledge and attitudes. In the pilot trial, youth and parents expressed generally similar attitudes about fertility and FP. Most youth (92%) reported learning about gender-affirming hormone therapy-related fertility issues online. Although many transgender youth endorsed a wish to parent children at some point, few (24%) expressed desire to have their own biological child. However, many youth wondered, or did not know, if their feelings about having a biological child might change in the future. Conclusions: This study presents a novel procedure for developing instruments for use with transgender youth. Although a majority of transgender youth in this study were uninterested in using FP, extending exploration of this topic with young people may be useful given findings of their openness to the idea that fertility attitudes may change in adulthood.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)128-135
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Adolescent Health
Volume62
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2018

Keywords

  • Autism
  • Fertility
  • Fertility preservation
  • Gender dysphoria
  • Hormone therapy
  • Neurodiversity
  • Transgender

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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