Female-to-male transsexuals who have delivered and reared their children

Abstract

Women were examined who identified as males from their childhood and were labeled as adults, female-to-male transsexuals. As adults they became pregnant and at times raised their children. The 11 women reared 14 boys and 6 girls. Most women felt they were coerced into pregnancy. The majority came from impoverished and chaotic backgrounds. Three of the women were rape victims, two by their own fathers. The majority were Catholic and opposed to abortion and carried their children to term. However, 6 women lost custody of their children, either abandoning them, neglecting them, or being deemed unsuitable to raise the children. A wide range of maternal responses to their children were seen but generally they experienced parenting problems, in part, related to their severe character pathology and disorganized lives.