Gamete Cryopreservation For Transgender or Gender Diverse Patients
Fertility Options for Transgender or Gender Diverse Patients Looking to Preserve their Fertility
Gamete cryopreservation for transgender or gender diverse patients (egg freezing or sperm freezing)
The Regional Fertility Program wants to help and support you in your journey. In order to ensure all of your concerns and questions are appropriately addressed, you will need to make an appointment with one of the Regional Fertility Program physicians.
Please arrange for a referral from your primary care physician indicating that you are interested in gamete cryopreservation (egg freezing or sperm freezing) prior to starting or during hormonal therapy. The referral form and information can be found here on our website. Please note that we strongly encourage patients to see us prior to initiating hormone therapy if possible.
Once our referral department has received your referral our Booking Coordinator will contact you to arrange an appointment. Your appointment will be made expediently with one of our physicians. Our physicians are happy to meet with you and discuss your concerns and questions with regard to gamete cryopreservation prior to/or during hormonal therapy.
Egg Freezing
Following your initial consultation with one of our physicians, should you decide that egg freezing is something you wish to explore further, you will be given requestions to complete a blood test as well as an ultrasound. These investigations are necessary prior to proceeding with egg freezing. Once investigations are complete, a cycle of egg freezing can begin and can take as little as two weeks to complete (depending upon whether any hormonal therapy has previously been initiated).
Please note that egg freezing and fertility treatment is not covered by Provincial Health Care. Costs for egg freezing can be discussed with our financial team.
Sperm Freezing
Once you meet with the physician and decide that you would like to proceed you will be given a requisition for sperm freezing. You may then call the Diagnostic Semen Laboratory @ 403-284-9410 to book an appointment for sperm freezing. The Diagnostic Semen Laboratory will accommodate you within 1 week following your appointment with the Regional Fertility Program physician.
Please note that sperm freezing and fertility treatment is not covered by Provincial Health Care. Costs for sperm freezing can be discussed with our financial team.