Table 3 Content analysis of importance of genetic relatedness
From: Fertility preservation decision making amongst Australian transgender and non-binary adults
Viewed genetic relatedness as important | Category | N | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
No | Plan to adopt or foster children | 21 | “It doesn’t matter, I’m hoping to adopt”. “I feel it is selfish to prioritise a genetic relationship when there are so many children in the world without families” |
No | A genetic relationship is not important | 14 | “Never saw why it made any difference”. “It’s not necessary for a child to be genetically related to their parents to have a normal and loving home environment”. |
No | Perception of having ‘bad genes’ | 10 | “I don’t want to pass on genetic mental illness”. “I have terrible genes and do not want them to continue”. |
Yes | Pragmatic acceptance that genetic relatedness is not possible | 19 | “It is important to me, but ultimately not likely to be possible so I’m working on letting that go”. “I understood as I came to terms with my gender that I’d never bear my own children”. |
Yes | Would like the option of having a genetic relationship | 13 | “I would like the option to have biological children”. “I want at least one other biological child for personal reasons, but it’s not actually important to me otherwise”. |
Yes | Fine either way | 14 | “Ideally I would like to have another genetic child but I would also be happy to help raise a non genetic child”. “Both me and my partner would like children to share our genetics but if that’s not possible we want to adopt”. |