Came across this article, which is about a trans person's journey to egg harvesting and embryo freezing with a private fertility company called Hertility:
hertilityhealth.com/blog/fertility-for-trans-people-a-journey-to-embryo-freezing/
The whole thing makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable:
- it's basically an advertorial for this private egg freezing company
- It appears that the interviewee had no idea that transitioning would affect their fertility, found it triggering that this was raised as a side effect / outcome by the NHS clinic, but magically came around to the idea of invasive egg harvesting procedures when suggested by Hertility.
- These invasive procedures are presented as an empowering personal choice.
- The way that "all pathways to parenthood" are celebrated. Which in this case realistically implies potential surrogacy (presumably commercial) following testosterone treatment and uterus atrophy.
- The company is called Hertility and most of the rest of their website emphasises their expertise in women's health, but it's unmentionable that Sorcha has female biology
- Use of the word humxn - what does this even mean?
I'm aware that fertility companies are starting to market egg harvesting and egg freezing aggressively to women anyway as a way of 'having it all': extend your fertility and have your kids when your career is secure etc. This just feels like another way of commercialising and commodifying female reproductive function: you can't just get pregnant naturally, you need to use a whole host of dangerous, expensive and potentially exploitative procedures. And you should aspire to this as an example of female empowerment.