Does men get pregnant
Can Men Get Pregnant? Outcomes for Transgender and Cisgender Men
Is it possible?
Yes, it’s possible for men to become pregnant and give birth to children of their own. In fact, it’s probably a lot more common than you might think. In order to explain, we’ll need to break down some common misconceptions about how we understand the term “man.” Not all people who were assigned male at birth (AMAB) identify as men. Those who do are “cisgender” men. Conversely, some people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) identify as men. These folks may be “transgender” men or transmasculine people.
Transmasculine is used to describe an AFAB individual who identifies or presents toward the masculine side of the spectrum. This person may identify as a man or any number of other gender identities including nonbinary, genderqueer, or agender.
Many AFAB folks who identify as men or who don’t identify as women have the reproductive organs necessary to carry a child. There are also emerging technologies that may make it possible for AMAB individuals to carry a child.
Your reproductive organs and hormones may change what pregnancy looks like, but your gender isn’t — and shouldn’t be — considered a limiting factor.
If you have a uterus and ovaries
Some people who have a uterus and ovaries, are not on testosterone, and identify as men or as not as women may wish to become pregnant. Unless you’ve taken testosterone, the process of pregnancy is similar to that of a cisgender woman. Here, we’ll focus on the process of carrying a child and giving birth for AFAB folks who have a uterus and ovaries, and are,or have been, on testosterone.
Conception
For those who opt to take testosterone, menses typically stop within six months of starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In order to conceive, a person will need to stop the use of testosterone.
Still, it isn’t entirely unheard of for people who are on testosterone to become pregnant from having unprotected vaginal sex. Due to a lack of research and variations in individual physiology, it’s still not entirely clear how effective testosterone use is as a method of pregnancy prevention. Kaci, a 30 year-old trans man who has undergone two pregnancies, says that many doctors falsely tell people starting testosterone that it will make them infertile. “While there’s very little research that’s been conducted on gender non-conforming pregnancies or the effects of HRT on fertility, [the] data [that] is available happens to be overwhelmingly positive.” Take the results of one 2013 report, for example. The researchers surveyed 41 transgender men and transmasculine folks who had stopped taking testosterone and became pregnant. They found that most respondents were able to conceive a child within six months of stopping testosterone. Five of these people conceived without having first resumed menstruation.
Conception can happen in many ways, including sexual intercourse and through the use of assisted reproductive technologies (AST). AST may involve using sperm or eggs from a partner or donor.
Pregnancy
Researchers in the aforementioned 2013 survey didn’t find any significant differences in pregnancy between those who did and didn’t use testosterone. Some folks did report hypertension, preterm labor, placental interruption, and anemia, but these numbers were consistent with those of cisgender women. Interestingly, none of those respondents who reported anemia had ever taken testosterone. Anemia is common among cisgender women during pregnancy. However, pregnancy can be a challenging time emotionally.
Transgender men and transmasculine folks who become pregnant often experience scrutiny from their communities.
As Kaci points out, “There’s nothing inherently feminine or womanly about conception, pregnancy, or delivery.
No body part, nor bodily function, is inherently gendered. If your body can gestate a fetus, and that’s something you happen to want — then it’s for you, too.” People who experience gender dysphoria may find that these feelings intensify as their body changes to accommodate the pregnancy. The social association of pregnancy with womanhood and femininity can also lead to discomfort. Ceasing the use of testosterone may also exacerbate feelings of gender dysphoria. It’s important to note that discomfort and dysphoria aren’t a given for all trans folks who become pregnant. In fact, some people find that the experience of being pregnant and giving birth enhances their connection to their body.
The emotional impact of pregnancy is entirely dictated by each individual’s personal experience.
Delivery
The survey administrators found that a higher percentage of folks who reported testosterone use prior to conception had a cesarean delivery (C-section), though the difference wasn’t statistically significant.
It’s also worth noting that 25 percent of people who had a C-section elected to do so, possibly due to discomfort or other feelings around vaginal delivery.
The researchers concluded that pregnancy, delivery, and birth outcomes didn’t differ according to prior testosterone use.
Although more research is necessary, this suggests that the outcomes for transgender, transmasculine, and gender non-conforming folks are similar to that of cisgender women.
Postpartum
It’s important that special attention be given to the unique needs of transgender people following childbirth. Postpartum depression is of particular concern. Studies show that 1 in 7 cisgender women experience postpartum depression. Given that the trans community experiences much higher rates of mental health conditions, they may also experience postpartum depression in higher numbers. The method of feeding a newborn is another important consideration.
If you’ve elected to have a bilateral mastectomy, you may not be able to chestfeed. Those who haven’t had top surgery, or have had procedures such as periareolar top surgery, may still be able to chestfeed.
Still, it’s up to each individual to decide whether chestfeeding feels right for them.
Although there has yet to be a study on transgender men and lactation, exogenous testosterone has long been used as a method for suppressing lactation. This suggests that those who do take testosterone while chestfeeding may experience a decreased production in milk. With this in mind, it’s important to consider whether delaying your return to testosterone use is the right choice for you.
If you no longer have or were not born with a uterus
To our knowledge, there has not yet been a case of pregnancy in an AMAB individual. However, advances in reproductive technology could make this a possibility in the near future for folks who have had hysterectomies and those who were not born with ovaries or a uterus.
Pregnancy via uterus transplant
The first baby born from a transplanted uterus arrived in Sweden during October of 2014. While this procedure is still in its early experimental stages, several other babies have been born through this method. Most recently, a family in India welcomed a baby from a transplanted womb, the first such case in the country. Of course, like many such technologies, this method was developed with cisgender women in mind. But many have begun to speculate that this procedure could also apply to transgender women and other AMAB folks. Dr. Richard Paulson, the former president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, suggested that uterine transplants for trans women and AMAB folks are more or less possible now. He added, “There would be additional challenges, but I don’t see any obvious problem that would preclude it.” It’s likely that supplementation to replicate hormonal phases during pregnancy would be necessary. Cesarean section would also be necessary for those who have undergone gender confirmation surgery.
Pregnancy via abdominal cavity
It has also been suggested that it may be possible for AMAB folks to carry a baby in the abdominal cavity. People have made this leap based on the fact that a very tiny percentage of eggs are fertilized outside of the womb in what is known as an ectopic pregnancy. However, ectopic pregnancies are incredibly dangerous for the gestational parent and typically require surgery. A significant amount of research would need to be done to make this a possibility for folks who don’t have a uterus, and even then, it seems incredibly unlikely that this would be a viable option for a hopeful parent.The bottom line
With our understanding constantly evolving, it’s important to honor the fact that one’s gender doesn’t determine whether they can become pregnant. Many men have had children of their own, and many more will likely do so in the future.
It’s crucial not to subject those who do become pregnant to discrimination, and instead find ways to offer safe and supportive environments for them to build their own families.
Likewise, it seems feasible that uterus transplants and other emerging technologies will make it possible for AMAB individuals to carry and give birth to children of their own. The best thing we can do is to support and care for all people who choose to become pregnant, regardless of their gender and the sex they were assigned at birth.
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KC Clements is a queer, nonbinary writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Their work deals with queer and trans identity, sex and sexuality, health and wellness from a body positive standpoint, and much more. You can keep up with them by visiting their website, or by finding them on Instagram and Twitter.
Can men become pregnant: What to know
A person who was born male and is living as a man cannot get pregnant. However, some transgender men and nonbinary people can.
In most cases, including cis-men who have sex with men, male pregnancy is not possible.
New research in uterine transplants may mean that male pregnancy could be a possibility in the future, though.
In this article, we will discuss the difference between sex and gender before explaining more about transgender and male pregnancy.
Anyone who has a uterus and ovaries could become pregnant and give birth.
People who are born male and living as men cannot get pregnant. A transgender man or nonbinary person may be able to, however.
It is only possible for a person to be pregnant if they have a uterus. The uterus is the womb, which is where the fetus develops. Male reproductive organs include testicles and a penis but no uterus.
The terms “man” and “woman” refer to a person’s gender, which encompasses the socially constructed characteristics that differentiate the traditional binary sexes — male and female.
Unlike a person’s biological sex, which an individual’s reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics define, genetics alone do not determine a person’s gender.
A person’s gender may include specific social roles, norms, and expectations that differentiate men and women.
These characteristics are subjective, and they differ among societies, social classes, and cultures. The gender by which a person identifies depends on the individual.
Gender is much more fluid than biological sex.
Typically, people are assigned male or female at birth. Those who identify with the gender that society associates with their biological sex are “cisgender” men and women.
Cisgender men who have sex with cisgender men cannot get pregnant.
However, not everyone identifies with the gender role that is associated with their designated sex. For instance, a person who was assigned female at birth (AFAB) but identifies as a man may refer to themselves as a “transgender” man or a gender nonconforming individual.
Many AFAB people who identify as men or gender nonconforming people retain their ovaries and uterus, which allows them to get pregnant and give birth.
People who have a uterus and ovaries can become pregnant and give birth.
However, some AFAB people may take testosterone. Testosterone therapy helps suppress the effects of estrogen while stimulating the development of masculine secondary sex characteristics, including:
- muscle growth
- redistribution of body fat
- increased hair growth on the body and face
- deeper voice
Research suggests that menstruation usually ends within 12 months after starting testosterone therapy and often within 6 months, which can make conceiving more difficult but not impossible.
Although testosterone therapy does not make people infertile, a person may have a higher chance of placental abruption, preterm labor, anemia, and hypertension.
In a 2014 study, researchers surveyed 41 transgender men and gender nonconforming AFAB individuals who became pregnant and gave birth.
Of the individuals who reported using testosterone before pregnancy, 20% became pregnant before their menstrual cycle returned.
The authors of this study concluded that prior testosterone use did not lead to significant differences in pregnancy, delivery, or birth outcomes.
The authors also noted that a higher percentage of transgender men who reported previous testosterone use had a cesarean delivery compared with those who had no history of testosterone use.
These findings do not suggest that testosterone therapy makes people incapable of vaginal delivery, as 25% of the transgender men who had a cesarean delivery chose to do so based on their comfort levels and preferences.
However, there is limited research regarding transgender pregnancy, so it is unclear how testosterone may affect a person’s fertility or pregnancy.
In a 2019 case study, researchers documented the experience of one 20-year-old transgender man who became pregnant 2 months after he discontinued testosterone therapy.
After 40 weeks, he gave birth to a healthy baby after an uncomplicated labor.
The authors stated that he chestfed for 12 weeks before restarting testosterone therapy.
People who have had a bilateral mastectomy or other chest surgeries may not be able to chestfeed.
Transgender men and AFAB individuals who do not identify as female may elect to undergo a range of medical treatments and surgical procedures during the transition process.
Examples of gender-affirming surgical procedures for transgender men include:
- Male chest reduction or “top surgery”: This procedure involves the removal of both breasts and any underlying breast tissue.
- Hysterectomy: A hysterectomy refers to the removal of the internal female reproductive organs, including the ovaries and uterus.
- Phalloplasty: During this procedure, a surgeon constructs a neopenis from skin grafts.
- Metoidioplasty: This treatment uses a combination of surgery and hormone therapy to enlarge the clitoris and make it function as a penis.
If a person has undergone a partial hysterectomy — which involves the removal of the womb but not the ovaries, cervix, and fallopian tubes — it is possible for the fertilized egg to latch onto the fallopian tubes or the abdomen, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy.
However, this is exceedingly rare, and according to a 2015 review, there are only 71 cases on record since 1895.
Gender does not determine who can become pregnant.
People who identify as men can, and do, become pregnant and give birth, if they possess a uterus and ovaries.
Can a man get pregnant and bear a child. Yes, but it is deadly
Mood swings, morning sickness and slow, painful death. This is what pregnancy would look like for a man. How can men even get pregnant? Why can pregnancy be so dangerous for them? And how would society change if anyone on Earth could get pregnant?
Universal Pictures
How much our world would change in such a situation!
Maybe you watched the movie "Junior" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which an embryo was implanted into the abdominal cavity of his character. With the help of hormone therapy, he bears a child, and with the help of an operation, the baby is born. Sounds quite logical, can't it be? Alas, in real life it would turn into a disaster.
What can go wrong?
If you don't have a womb or are trying to carry your baby out of the womb, it will be a dangerous adventure for both you and the baby.
This condition even has a medical name - ectopic pregnancy. This is a life-threatening scenario that occurs in one in 100 pregnancies. This usually happens when a fertilized egg attaches to the fallopian tube. In this case, the woman experiences severe pain and needs urgent surgical intervention.
This condition is dangerous due to intra-abdominal bleeding, and can cause serious health problems and lead to death.
Can a man get pregnant?
Even if you forget about the presence of the uterus, a man in any case will have to implant a fertilized egg in his body. The abdomen can be a good place to carry a baby. When implanted at the right moment of development, the embryo can attach itself to any living tissue.
It could be the kidney, liver, or even the spleen.
If the placenta is formed in sufficient quantity, the fetus can develop and the man will safely carry it for nine months. By the way, this happened in real life too! This happened to a South African woman and her child in 2003. The embryo developed in the woman's liver. And after a complex operation, a miracle baby weighing 2.8 kg was born. This is a very rare success, given that one in 200 ectopic pregnancies is fatal to the mother.
The problem with pregnancy in the peritoneum is placental abruption. During pregnancy, the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) is completely separated during childbirth. If you were carrying a baby in the peritoneum, this kind of detachment would not be possible. To remove the placental material would require a very complex operation, which may not be successful. You may be injured and cause internal bleeding.
But even if the operation went well, the embryo itself could damage the organ to which it was attached.
This can lead to spontaneous bleeding and death. Perhaps it would be safer if the man had a womb transplant, but even that would be incredibly difficult.
The immune system may reject the new body part. In addition, if the body has never had a uterus, doctors need to make sure that it receives a blood supply to bear a child. This means that they would have to alter arteries and veins to direct blood to a new organ.
Thus, any operation is an incredible number of risks and a high probability of death.
If men got pregnant...
Let's forget about all the complexities of the process, how would the world be different if men could bear children? First, if men, who statistically dominate the business and political professions, could get pregnant, abortion could become legal or more affordable in more countries.
Paid maternity leave would probably also be more common.
Family planning would change dramatically. Couples could take turns having children depending on where they are in their lives and careers. It could also lead to a variety of safer birth controls. If anyone could get pregnant, the development of effective contraceptives would be much more important.
Otherwise, the population of the Earth could grow even faster. Last but certainly not least, all of these can lead to greater empathy for pregnancy, childbirth, and parental leave.
90,000 pregnant men: photos and stories from Russia and the USASociety
October 21, 2020, 15:06
(updated: November 18, 2022, 11:14)
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Read 360TV in
resident of Ufa Salavat Askhatov accidentally found out that he "got pregnant." He was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of pansinusitis. On the fifth day of treatment, he looked into the medical history, from which it followed that he was in an interesting position and he should consult a gynecologist.
This is not the first time a man has taken on the role of a pregnant woman. True, if in Russia bureaucratic oversights are to blame for everyone, then in the West it is usually associated with gender reassignment operations.
A man became pregnant due to a technical error
Salavat told 360 that he reacted to the situation with humor. He was more upset by other inaccuracies in the papers. Allegedly, the patient was treating a tooth, but did not go to the doctors before entering the hospital.
“Actually, I didn’t treat the tooth and didn’t say anything like that to the doctor at all. It is also written that the patient was not treated on an outpatient basis (feminine). But in reality, I was treated on an outpatient basis, but the treatment turned out to be ineffective, as a result of which I was admitted to a hospital, ”explained a resident of Bashkiria.
Salavat considers this unacceptable, since such conclusions blur the picture of the disease and confuse the doctor when prescribing medicines and procedures.
The hospital, where such an unexpected diagnosis was made, has already conducted an internal investigation. The press service of the Ministry of Health of Bashkiria named the cause of the misunderstanding in the Ufa City Clinical Hospital No. 21.
“There was a technical error when processing the patient's documents. All those involved have been identified, and work is underway to prevent similar cases in the future," the department stressed.
The Ministry of Health added that the medical history published on the social network did not contain the signature of the head of the unit. This means that the patient posted a photograph of the medical history, which the manager has not yet checked.
At the same time, Salavat himself says that they are now trying to shift all the blame onto junior staff, who are threatened with dismissal. In the meantime, the card fell into the hands of the patient, when during the examination he was given documents and told to go to the nurse in order to issue a referral for UHF heating.
It was then that the man opened the documents and accidentally saw information about the pregnancy.
“I was very happy, of course. I thought I could pay off my mortgage now. But, in fact, this is a gross mistake. And the junior staff has absolutely nothing to do with it. This doctor... Of course, his apologies are not fundamental to me. Even the head of the department - an aged woman - came and apologized, and the attending physician sits at the reception, looks into her eyes, but there are not even such messages as to simply say: "I'm sorry that this happened." From a purely human point of view, I would apologize to the patient," Salavat summed up.
A Russian broke his arm and got pregnant
A similar situation happened to another Russian in December 2019. Doctors of the central district hospital in Borovichi, Novgorod region, also diagnosed a man who came to them with a pregnancy diagnosis, writes Rise.
The young man broke his arm. The doctors put a plaster cast on him and inserted a metal pin into his arm.
A year after the operation, he returned to the doctors to get rid of the metal structure. However, after the second operation, I read in my documents that the removal of the pin is possible only “after delivery”. From the same papers, the patient learned that, it turns out, he was at the 27th week of pregnancy.
Naturally, a man cannot become pregnant for real. But several times already, people who became men after sex reassignment surgery have become pregnant and given birth.
Pregnant man in Finland
Doctors delivered a transgender man in Finland. The future father was born a woman, but in 2015 he underwent a sex change operation and received documents in his male name.
True, later, the young man decided to stop taking hormones after surgery, because he wanted to get pregnant. The plan worked. The pregnancy went well. But there were some difficulties with identifying the gender of the one who carried the child. The computer programs used by the doctors did not recognize the situation.
This created red tape for the couple.
According to France24, this was the first time in Finland that a transgender man carried and delivered a child. The newborn weighed almost four kilograms and was 53 centimeters long.
The situation has caused a lot of controversy, as the Finnish law on transsexuals requires mandatory sterilization of those who change sex. However, in practice, no one is in a hurry to go through the procedure. Hormone therapy is considered as sufficient proof of a person's infertility.
An American carried and gave birth to three
American Thomas Beaty, born Tracey Lagondino, underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2002. At the same time, the internal reproductive organs remained intact.
He became known as the first "pregnant man" after he became pregnant by artificial insemination in 2007. This step was prompted by the infertility of his wife. Then the couple took advantage of the donor sperm bank. So they had their first child.
And in 2009 and 2010, the couple decided on this for the second and third time. In February 2012, Beaty went through the operation again. He got rid of the female reproductive organs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwh32_IjJtE/
True, the couple broke up in the same year. There was a protracted divorce, three children stayed with their father. Later, the unusual father remarried. He fell in love with his children's elementary school principal and became a father for the fourth time. The new wife has already given birth to the youngest child.
Did not plan to, but gave birth
A resident of the American city of Philadelphia, Cayden Coleman was not going to become a father. He was in a relationship with a man when he felt strange. At that time, he had changed sex for 10 years, writes the New York Daily News. Coleman and his partner Elijah learned about the upcoming addition to the family only at the 21st week of pregnancy.
“Never thought about getting pregnant.
