A transgender man in Italy who underwent a mastectomy during his gender transition has joined a rare group of so-called “seahorses” after discovering he is five months pregnant.
The parents-to-be, known only as “Marco” in Italian media, had already undergone a mastectomy and were preparing to have their uterus removed when they discovered they were pregnant at a Rome hospital. The Telegraph reported.
“Once you find out you're pregnant, the first thing you should do is terminate the pregnancy.” [hormone] Treat immediately,” said endocrinologist Dr. Julia Senofonte. told La Repubblica newspaper.the news outlet that first reported it.
Gender therapy experts warned that the unborn child could be at risk.
“If treatment is not stopped immediately, it can have effects, especially during the first trimester, which is a critical period for the development of the baby's organs,” Dr. Senofonte said.
“It's hard to speak in abstract terms, but it all depends on when the person stops taking the testosterone they're taking,” she added.
High levels of male and female hormones in a parent's body can lead to blood pressure and clotting problems, putting them at risk for heart disease, Senofonte said. According to the London Times.
“Hormonal therapy blocks the menstrual cycle, but it is not a contraceptive pill. This person may continue to ovulate, thereby putting them at risk of pregnancy,” she said.
“Those working on transition typically recommend contraceptives that can be used during hormone therapy,” the expert added.
Marco, who plans to proceed with the pregnancy, will be the child's biological mother, but will be legally registered as the father, La Repubblica newspaper reported.
The unusual case, believed to be the first of its kind in Italy, makes him part of a small group of transgender men known as “seahorses” who carry babies, the Telegraph reported.
The term comes from the fact that among seahorses, the male carries and gives birth to the young.
Under Italian law, abortions after 90 days are only allowed in cases of serious fetal abnormalities or serious health risks to the mother, but the psychological stress of an abnormal birth may lead to a therapeutic abortion. That could be justified, said Mathilde Vignelli, a consultant at the Gender Dysphoria Clinic in Palermo. .
“If Marco's pregnancy progresses, she will realize that she is both his biological mother and his legal father,” the London Times reported.
“It would be shocking. Same-sex families still don't have rights here. Imagine a child born into such a unique environment,” Vigneri said.
Toni Brandi, president of Pro Vita e Familia, a conservative Catholic foundation, said she hoped Marco would decide to permanently stop treatment.
“Gender fluidity theory is complete insanity. It goes against science and goes against nature,” Brandy said. “This incident is a challenge to gender theory because it shows that women are women.
“If I identify tomorrow as a woman, it doesn't mean I can have children,” he added.
Although several transgender men have given birth in the United States, this is believed to be unprecedented in Italy.
