My Transition Tube Map - Station Notes
- Ashton Blyth
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 3
After having my screening appointment with the NHS Leeds Gender Identity Clinic in July 2017, and being told this should have happened months ago, and now he real waiting begins - we decided to explore other routes. We contacted Dr Lorimer of GenderCare in London, and were able to get an appointment booked within the month. Within this appointment we (my mum and I) gave an extensive history affirming my wishes to transition, allowing Dr Lorimer to confirm my diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria. Dr Lorimer talked me through the options of starting hormone treatment and the process of it, as well as raised the question of fertility and whether I had considered having my eggs frozen.
I started the process for beginning hormone treatment, but after having blood tests reviewed by Dr Seal of GenderCare he decided I needed to begin a Vitamin D supplement and then have bloods reviewed again before I could start on testosterone.
At the same time as having blood tests, we also asked the GP to make a referral for egg freezing, with the theory of starting on testosterone anyway as this could take a long time. However, at the point of having my bloods reviewed by Dr Seal and hormone treatment postponed, we heard from the GP that my referral was now awaiting board approval.
I was unaware that I was actually the first case of a transgender man being approved for NHS funding in the North West and had my eggs frozen at Liverpool Women's Hospital. Out of 42 Integrated Care Board's (ICBs - who decide who will receive funding to have their eggs frozen by the NHS) in the country, all with different criteria and guidelines for egg freezing, I was fortunate to receive funding where many before had not. Places like Brighton and Hove - a known pro-LGBTQ+ area, turning down trans men over a year later.
Only a few weeks earlier the following article was posted, fertility experts imploring the NHS guidelines to include transgender men in their eligibility for fertility preservation nationwide, where hormone treatment can often lead to infertility for trans men.
Even now, over seven years later, the debate of whether trans men should receive funding for fertility preservation continues.
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