Stopping testosterone for IVF: what FTM patients actually face

What did @shouldb3irish actually say?

Taylor, a trans man partnered with Madison, is preparing for reciprocal IVF at Mount Sinai in Toronto. He describes a timeline where he stops testosterone, waits up to two weeks for his cycle to return, then spends two to three weeks on fertility medications before a trigger shot and egg retrieval. His estimate: "about four to five weeks off of testosterone for this process." He also mentions stopping T completely before starting the fertility protocol, not tapering.

This is a firsthand account of a real clinical process, not a how-to guide. Taylor is clear he's sharing his specific situation and actively asks other trans men who've done this to share their experiences. That's a reasonable framing. He's not presenting himself as a medical authority, which matters when evaluating how literally viewers should take the timeline details.

Does the science back this up?

Mostly, yes, with some important caveats. The two-week window for menstrual resumption after stopping testosterone is plausible but not guaranteed for everyone. Research suggests it can take longer, and the timeline varies significantly based on duration of testosterone use and individual response.

A study by Grimstad et al. (2021, Fertility and Sterility) examined ovarian stimulation in transgender men and found that follicular development and hormonal response were comparable to cisgender women in most cases, though the path to getting there varied. The same study noted that menstrual resumption timing after testosterone cessation was not uniform. Mitu (2016, AMA Journal of Ethics) and more recent clinical guidance from the WPATH Standards of Care v8 (2022) both acknowledge that testosterone does not permanently eliminate ovarian function in most people, which supports Taylor's underlying premise that egg retrieval remains feasible.

The immediate restart of testosterone post-retrieval he mentions is consistent with clinical practice described in fertility literature for trans men, where the luteal phase window is short and resumption is generally considered safe once the procedure is complete.

What did they get wrong (or right)?

Taylor gets the broad strokes right. Testosterone does suppress but typically does not permanently destroy ovarian function. Cycles can return after cessation. Egg retrieval is possible. Restarting T after retrieval is standard practice. He deserves credit for accuracy on the basics.

Where the video falls short is the specificity of the two-week timeline. Taylor says "I have to go off testosterone for at least two weeks until my cycle comes back," framing it almost as a guarantee. That understates real variability. Moravek et al. (2020, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism) found that in some trans men, ovarian suppression from prolonged testosterone use meant delayed or incomplete response to gonadotropin stimulation, requiring protocol adjustments. Two weeks is the floor in some clinical protocols, not a reliable average.

He also says "nothing crazy will happen" in a month off T. That's subjective and dismissive of what dysphoria-related distress during cycle resumption can mean clinically. The mood and physical changes he says he's nervous about are documented in the literature, not minor inconveniences. Katz-Wise et al. (2018, International Journal of Sexual Health) found gender dysphoria symptoms frequently intensified during fertility treatment in trans men, particularly around menstruation resumption.

What should you actually know?

If you're a trans man considering egg freezing or reciprocal IVF, this video is a useful personal account but not a substitute for individualized medical guidance. The timeline Taylor describes reflects his specific protocol at one clinic. Yours may differ, sometimes significantly.

Key things the video does not address: not everyone will resume cycling within two weeks, particularly after longer testosterone use. Some protocols use exogenous hormonal priming to stimulate the ovaries without waiting for natural cycle resumption, which can shorten the off-T window. The WPATH Standards of Care v8 (2022) explicitly recommends that trans men considering future fertility discuss options before starting hormones, not as an afterthought.

Psychological support during the off-testosterone period is underrepresented in this video. The dysphoria that can accompany cycle return is real, documented, and worth discussing with a provider before stopping T, not just something to push through. If you are watching this and planning a similar process, talk to both a reproductive endocrinologist and a gender-affirming mental health provider in advance.

• Testosterone cessation timelines vary by individual and duration of use
• Ovarian stimulation in trans men is clinically feasible but not one-size-fits-all
• Psychological distress during the off-T period is common and worth proactive management