In a groundbreaking move, a fertility clinic dedicated to serving transgender clients is poised to open its doors in Pittsburgh next spring. This pioneering clinic, a collaboration between the Allegheny Reproductive Health Center (ARHC) and Mate Fertility, is set to provide a safe, affirming, and affordable haven for transgender and nonbinary individuals and couples seeking fertility-related care.
Dr. Sheila Ramgopal, an OB-GYN at ARHC, highlighted the crucial need for such a facility, stating, “For a lot of our clients, they’ve had massive difficulty accessing these services, both from an affordability perspective and from a safety perspective.” She emphasized that basic needs, such as a welcoming and inclusive environment, are often unmet for transgender and nonbinary communities within conventional fertility care, which often caters to affluent cis-white women and heterosexual couples.
One of the clinic’s primary missions is to offer its services at a significantly reduced cost compared to other fertility centers, aiming to make fertility care accessible to a broader spectrum of people. “Our goal is to make this extremely accessible for people no matter where you’re coming from and what your financial picture is,” Dr. Ramgopal asserted.
The clinic’s services will encompass standard fertility procedures such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), hormone therapy, surrogacy, and sperm and egg donation. Additionally, it will provide certain gender-affirming surgeries, marking another milestone in transgender healthcare. Furthermore, the clinic aspires to bridge the knowledge gap concerning reproductive health in the transgender community, addressing questions about the impact of hormonal treatments on fertility and exploring potential solutions.
Mate Fertility CEO Traci Keen underlined the clinic’s commitment to delivering tailored and appropriate information to transgender individuals, stating, “What we really want to be is that beacon for people where they can get information that’s tailored and appropriate for them.” This innovative clinic in Pittsburgh is poised to revolutionize the landscape of transgender-focused fertility care, offering a beacon of hope and inclusion for those seeking to build families of their own.