Making a deposit

[Nigella]

I have seen on here, quite a few times, that TS's have been advised to bank some sperm prior to starting any hormone therapy.

I, like a fair few on here, have been fortunate to be able to bring up children naturally. I was able to "live as a man" before the GD hit me, but now the thought of being a "father" is so far removed from my mind. Don't get me wrong I am "DAD" to my daughter and always will be, but now would I want to be a father :confused:

I honestly don't understand this advice. How many have been advised to take this action? How many did so? For those that have, do you think you will ever use it to become a father? How many said no?

[whowhatwhen]

It's not the same as being a father, you're just providing part of the DNA to make another human being should the need arise.
I mean, it's not completely impossible to meet a GG who wants a biological child and in the end it would be raised just like any other child in a lesbian relationship.

It's more of a "probably not but let's cover all the bases" kind of thing.

[MatildaJ.]

Seems like the advice may be more geared at younger transsexuals -- sometimes people in their twenties find it hard to imagine ever wanting to raise a child, but ten years later it might be the thing they most want in life. If they moved ahead with hormones and didn't consider banking sperm, then they can never consider having a biological child. But if they bank sperm, then they have more options available to them later on.

Even if you end up married to a guy, this would give you the option of having one child with his sperm & a donor egg, and one child with your sperm and a donor egg. Not everyone cares about passing on their genes, but I think many people care more than they thought they would.

[Ariamythe]

I didn't bank anything. I already have three kids who I parent to the best of my ability. They think of me as Dad and they will always be allowed to think of me as Dad no matter how far from the male image I drift. I love them unconditionally.

If I didn't already have kids? I probably wouldn't "bank". I'd adopt. But that's just my view.

[Michelle.M]

I think that would be pretty good advice if the person receiving it were young (ish), transbian and interested in eventually being a parent to her own offspring with her GG partner. Sure! Why not?

[kimdl93]

For younger individuals contemplating transition, I think it's wise. If they have or find a GG life partner, it gives them a chance to also share that most intimate creation...a child that is uniquely theirs. And they can bring that child up with the love of two moms or an unconventional father and mother...however they choose. As a parent, I wouldn't want anyone to pass up the opportunity.

[Rebecca Star]

Not That I'm transitioning or even contemplating it but I wanted to say (for the want of a better word), I can't have kids because I shoot blanks. Adoption was never an option until later in life and by that stage, it was too late. While it may seem peculiar advice, a similar question could be leveled at those who transition but choose to keep their male genitalia. Maybe some people just want that security, knowing they can have kids even if they can't physically achieve it due to their transitioning.

I do agree with others, younger people are probably more likely, to subscribe to this practice and mindset :)

[Lorileah]

Just last night a woman told me "Too bad you could not have had a child before you started changing" In my case having children was never on the radar. I was not ideal parent material and the family history of iron fisted parents made me think I should not be one. Now I could be a good parent and I am for my cats but when I was younger short temper and anger would have made the child's life hell. And now I am not sure that I COULD have fathered a child. Not sure I had the biologic numbers of little guys. I dodged the bullet several times when not thinking

[whowhatwhen]

Any of mine would probably end up riddled with autoimmune disease, now there's something to think over another time...

E:
I can just imagine leaving the room with that cup and some grizzled sperm nurse saying "done already eh?"

[Eryn]

The basic philosophy of "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" seems to be in play here.

The same advice is often given younger men who are contemplating vasectomy. Yes, they think that they are done procreating, but there are always "what if" scenarios where a little banked DNA might be useful.

[Nigella]

What is interesting is that, at present, it appears to be an option offered to those on the other side of the pond. During my "therapy" the option of "banking" was never raised, either by me or the nurse specialist. Mind you that could also be due to my age. :)

[Eryn]

It also has a lot to do with the fact that there is a tort lawyer under every rock here. Mentioning every option is a CYA thing.

[whowhatwhen]

After some quick googling it looks like the "collection" part is extremely awkward.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSH67svEYT8

[Loni]

it is a feeling most every human (as well as other creatures on the planet) have, it is this need to procreate life.
be grateful if you have children, or have the ability to make them.
due to a cancer i can not.
but at now age 54 i wish i had children. way to late in life to have a rase any...even if i could "make them".
if you feel the need and can afford the costs. freeze some sperm/eggs as nessasry.
maybe you will never use. but might help another??

.

[Nicole Erin]

I think the reason storing sperm is even mentioned is to let TS know that it IS an option.
It is not a good idea to tell anyone they "should" unless the TS in question is thinking of maybe having children one day.

I would bet the majority of humans out there are pretty firm on whether or not they want kids. This is especially true for those of us who are in our 30's or above. Teens and 20's talk about wanting kids one day. We just don't hear the older crowds talking serious about wanting to disrupt their lives with bringing kids into it.

For me, I am not doing HRT and probably never will. My son is now a man. Not yet a legal adult for another year but he IS a man (helps take care of his sick mom, truly a grown-up job). I am done having kids.

[whowhatwhen]

Okay so I figured that since I was going through this I might as well document it for future reference if anyone is curious.

Part I: The bloody paperwork (with blood)
I arrived at the fertility clinic for my appointment at 9am and was immediately taken in by a nice girl who would help me fill out all the forms I needed.
The forms were basic consent forms, things about them not being liable if something happens to your sperm, and ones that dictate who gets your sperm if you pass on before it's used.
I chose to allow mine to be used for research purposes because science is cool as hell.

Next I was given forms for bloodwork to be done to make sure I wasn't carrying hepatitis or HIV.
This is because they simply will not bank someone with it so they want to make sure you're clean before getting a sample.

I was told to make an appointment for 3 weeks after I got my bloodwork done just to be sure the lab got all the results in, that appointment would be the first deposit and also where the first payment is required.
Because it's for a medical reason I will only have to pay $300 initially and $240 per year to keep the sperm stored.

That being said each additional deposit is (I think) $150.
I'm mentioning this because they may need more than one deposit, as I was told they need enough sperm for 10 attempts at fertilization.

After I left the clinic I walked a few minutes north to the hospital and got my blood taken.
The end of part I.

:)

[whowhatwhen]

I've been delayed because of a damn ear infection and as it turns out antibiotics aren't good for sperm production.
With my last dose being tonight I just called and booked my appointment for Monday morning.

Maybe these last posts should be split into their own topic?

Part II: Pre-appointment
Basically you don't whack it or have sex 2 days before your appointment.
Then I will go in, sign some more consent forms, pay the fees, and presumably enter the masturbatorium.

I suppose the odd part is fapping into a cup at 9:30 in the morning but at least it'll satiate my curiosity as to what kind of hilarious porn they keep at these places.
:)

[LeaP]

Will it be tranny porn? The mind boggles ...

[gonegirl]

Oh how I wish I hadn't clicked on this thread. :^P

JK :^)

[Angela Campbell]

Lea ! Go sit in the corner!

[LeaP]

And do what, exactly, Angie???

Maybe you should sit in the corner, too! No, wait ... I meant ...

Never mind!!! :hiding:

[Kathryn Martin]

eww, eww, eww, ewwwwwwwww............. seriously.

[whowhatwhen]

Yeah sperm is pretty gross but you gotta do what you gotta do.
:P

I'll find out what their porn library consists of because now I know you're all curious too...
:)

[whowhatwhen]

Part III: Enter the masturbatoricube

For my appointment I had to fill out a form with my name, date, and how long I had abstained.
After that I paid the $300 for this deposit and was given a brown paper lunch bag with the collection container in it. (Ruining lunch yet? :P)

The masturbatorium was actually more like a masturbatory cube in a masturbatory hallway containing multiple masturbatoratoriums.
I get in, lock the door, and it's showtime!

Good news! If you're gay or like "black power bottoms" then they've got you covered magazine wise.
Actually I think they had more gay magazines than straight ones, lol.

There was also a large screen TV hooked up to an AppleTV for I'm assuming digital porn, however I'm a huge germophobe so there was no way in hell I was touching that remote.
See, I thought ahead and brought my own tablet for portable debauchery :)

There's nothing to the next part really, it's just fapping into a cup.

Edit/updated:
You cannot use any lubrication of any kind, so bite the pillow you're goin' in dry.

After that you put the cup into the paper bag, (hopefully) wash your hands, and bring your specimen to the sperm window.

Well, it's more like a sliding window with a buzzer.
You press the buzzer and a sperm nurse takes it from you and you leave.

I guess I'll find out soon if that one go was enough.

[Nicole Erin]

Corinne, I know you think it is a big joke to deposit DNA by the way you worded stuff. You know this is a serious forum, right?
You should have saved that humor for when you were at the place and you could have said real loud, "OK, off to do battle with Godzilla!" I would have just said, "Hey I do not need magazines, do you have a full length mirror instead?"

OK so now I have a serious question - THREE HUNDRED BUCKS TO BEAT IT? I do not think I have ruined $300 worth of pantyhose in my whole life when extracting my own DNA.

Hey we have this new FTM member, he thinks he is a funny guy, I told him, "Wait til you meet Corinne..."

[whowhatwhen]

The beating is free, you pay for the storage for the year - and that's reduced from $500 because it's for medical reasons.
:)

re: seriousness
There is nothing ever not funny about jackin' it, male or female it's just hilarious and no one will convince me otherwise!

Edit:
It gave me a good chuckle to see a property of Mt. Sinai Hospital tag on a copy of "Black Inches" magazine.
I gotta say it's exactly what it says on the tin.

[Nicole Erin]

You would think they would have kind of a variety of pr0n for the DNA extraction process.
The reason for the "property" tag is cause they figured some TS would steal it otherwise.

[whowhatwhen]

I thought about that yesterday and it's actually really cool how they're taking into account that non hetero people are still interested in fertility and whatnot.

Edit:
I forgot something so I added relevant info to part iii.

[whowhatwhen]

Part IV: The results!

The sperm bank finally got back to me, not at the best of times though so I had quite the awkward ride home with my mom.
Anyway, I've banked enough for IVF and I can't remember the other one but I'd need to do a few more at least to do insemination.

Cost is long term vs short term, I have enough banked now for IVF which could be $12,000 in the future.
Banking more sperm is $100 per shot (lol) but I only get a small amount of money per month and can't really afford it.

I'm leaning toward keeping what I have now because when or if I use the sample in the future I'll likely be way more financially stable.