Beyond IVF can help transgender people seek care and advise on their fertility before, during, and after transitioning. Sperm and eggs can be frozen before commencing gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) or surgery.

Beyond IVF offers a variety of treatments tailored for before, during, and after transitioning. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming space for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations to discuss their fertility needs. Wherever you might be in the transition process we can help you in your fertility journey.

The options for reproduction will vary depending on the individual situation. There may be the possibility of discontinuing hormone treatment for a while and using your own eggs or sperm; or building your family may require egg or sperm donation; or a gestational surrogate.

Whether as a couple, or an individual, and regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, everyone has different fertility needs so talking to one of our specialists is the best place to start.

Planning for Future Parenthood

If you're certain that you want to have children someday, it’s important to start preparing now to secure your future and minimize risks. In Thailand, you can preserve your reproductive cells for future use at any time.

🔹 For individuals assigned male at birth transitioning to female – you can consult about sperm freezing (we recommend doing this as soon as you realize your intention).
🔹 For individuals assigned female at birth transitioning to male – you can consult about egg freezing (consult early for the best outcome).

Planning for Parenthood Now

If you’re an LGBTQIA+ couple looking to have a child now, you may need to wait a little longer, as current Thai laws do not yet allow same-sex couples to access assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, we remain hopeful that the legal landscape will evolve to better support all families in the future.

See the LGBTTQI+ page for more options.

What is egg freezing?

Egg freezing, (also known as egg banking), involves a person with a uterus choosing to have eggs retrieved from their ovaries. The eggs are then frozen and stored until they are ready to use in the future with in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

How egg freezing works:

1. Ovarian stimulation

This involves using medication to mimic the body’s reproductive hormones and increase the number of eggs available.

2. Egg collection and freezing

When the eggs have matured, they are collected by a simple medical procedure, and frozen using a method called ‘vitrification’.*

If you are assigned female at birth and have already commenced masculinising hormone therapy, you may wish to consider stopping testosterone treatment three months prior to beginning the egg freezing process. Previously there was concern testosterone may effect how your body responds to the medications needed for egg retrieval. Recent experience shows that it may be possible to continue testosterone. However, this choice will need to be weighed against your personal circumstances, your medical history, and the risk of struggling with gender dysphoria. We’ll work with you to select the treatment path that suits you best.

GP referral note: Before the egg freezing process can begin, patients will need to have screening tests for Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Syphilis. Please arrange these tests before referring to Beyond IVF.

If you are assigned male at birth and have already commenced feminising hormone therapy, you may wish to consider stopping oestrogen treatment prior to beginning the sperm freezing process. Evidence suggests that this makes for a more reliable collection, as oestrogen impacts sperm production. However, this choice will need to be weighed against your personal circumstances, your medical history, and the risk of struggling with dysphoria. One of our specialists can work with you to select the treatment path that suits you best.

GP referral note: Before the sperm freezing process can begin, patients will need to have screening tests for Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Syphilis. Please arrange these tests before referring to Beyond IVF.

For more information on funding options, please refer to the fertility funding section below.

Sperm freezing involves a person with testicles choosing to have a sample of their sperm collected, analysed, frozen and stored for future use in fertility treatments. Sperm freezing may also be referred to as cryopreservation or sperm banking.

How sperm freezing works:

1. You’ll need to provide a semen sample, which will be analysed to determine sperm quality and quantity.

2. The viable sperm will then be frozen, (you may need to provide more than one sample).

3. When you’re ready to use the sperm, the sperm will be thawed so fertility treatment can commence. The first approach will generally be to try Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment with a donor or a partner, keeping some sperm in reserve to try In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) later if this is unsuccessful. If you have been taking hormone treatments for a long time, the sperm quality may not be as good, therefore IVF with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be needed.

Assigned female at birth:

Testosterone affects the following: • Masculinisation (deeper voice, hair growth, and increased muscle mass).

• Consider stopping testosterone three months before Fertility Preservation treatment as dysphoria may be an issue. Please discuss with one of

our specialists.

• Uterine atrophy • Ovarian suppressionIt is possible that these effects can be irreversible, but it’s also possible that they are reversible. Ovarian suppression, for example, is often reversed.

Assigned male at birth:

Oestrogen affects the following: 

• Testicular atrophy 

• Hypospermatogenesis -> azoospermia whilst on oestrogens

If Oestrogen treatment is stopped some of these effects may be reversible.