In this episode of the AllPaths Podcast, we speak with Trystan Reese, a father of three, advocate, educator, and an “all-around nerd” when it comes to transgender fertility and family building. Trystan shares his personal and professional journey, starting with his experience growing up in a conservative town as a transgender man without the language to understand his identity, leading him to initially believe “there was something wrong” with him. He recounts how, after transitioning and taking testosterone, he chose to keep his reproductive organs, allowing him to ultimately build his family through both adoption and biology.
Trystan reveals that as a young person, he never wanted to be a parent, a sentiment that aligns with data showing many transgender adolescents do not envision themselves in parental roles. Looking back on that time, Trystan reflects that “it’s very possible that transgender youth, including myself at that age, just don’t really see a world where they could ever be a parent.” He highlights the significant lack of fertility counseling he received 20 years ago when medically transitioning, where he was wrongly told testosterone would render him infertile. This experience fueled a healthy skepticism towards medical providers, as he found community knowledge often outpaced medical understanding. Trystan elaborates on his own pregnancy journey, describing it as a “cool weird science thing” that was mostly neutral, defying the universal expectation of dysphoria for trans pregnant people, as about a third feel neutral, and another third find it surprisingly improves their body comfort.
His decision to go public with his pregnancy aimed to share a positive trans story and demonstrate expanded possibilities for others and was surprised that it was such a “big deal” outside the trans community. Since deciding to be public about his fertility journey, Trystan has been a passionate advocate for the entire trans community, including non-binary people, trans people of color, and transgender women. From training medical centers and fertility clinics globally on providing trauma-informed care and respectful communication for transgender patients to working towards reshaping public narratives and promoting broader trans inclusion through his sharing his own story, Trystan hopes to inspire everyone to use their “sphere of influence” to advocate for trans inclusion in their communities and workplaces.
Trystan Reese (he/him) is a nationally recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant specializing in belonging and well-being. Known for his groundbreaking story as a pregnant transgender man, Trystan has spent nearly two decades advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and workplace inclusion. His unique blend of personal experience, professional expertise, and heartfelt storytelling creates transformative learning environments that empower individuals and organizations to take actionable steps toward equity.
Connect with Trystan at Collaborate Consulting and Trans Fertility Co. and read Trystan’s books How We Do Family (personal story/adoption/trans pregnancy) and The Light of You (children’s book celebrating a pregnant transgender dad’s journey to bringing a new baby into a family).
Interested in sharing your story? Get in touch here!
