Trans men may face higher miscarriage rates as review urges more research
Trans men may face more struggles during pregnancy (Getty Images)
A new review published in the Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica journal is calling for urgent research into pregnancy outcomes for transmasculine people after finding they may experience miscarriage at higher rates than the general population.
Reviewing data from 44 existing studies, researchers found reported miscarriage rates between 31% and 40% among trans men, compared to an estimated 11% to 22% in the wider population.
However, the authors stressed that the available evidence is extremely limited, and none of the studies included direct comparison groups. As a result, they say it’s not currently possible to determine whether the apparent difference is linked to testosterone use before pregnancy, other medical factors, or unrelated variables.
The review also found that pregnancy among transmasculine people remains significantly understudied, with an estimated 6% to 9% experiencing pregnancy during their lifetime.
Researchers noted that testosterone is not a reliable form of contraception and said reproductive healthcare discussions should include contraception, fertility planning, and the current limitations of medical knowledge.
“Service providers should be transparent about the current lack of knowledge and take the initiative to improve this through better quality research,” the authors wrote. “More needs to be known about transmasculine people, their pregnancies, delivery, birth outcomes, and obstetric complications. Future research should concentrate on answering such questions alongside high-quality care models. Reliable comparative data is urgently required.”
Ultimately, the authors said the greatest takeaway is the need for better evidence. They warned that the current lack of research leaves both patients and healthcare providers without the information needed to make fully informed decisions, with the authors concluding that “better data collection and research are urgently required” to improve care for transmasculine people who wish to become pregnant.
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