Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41194336›Full record

ArticlePerspectives on sexual and reproductive health2025

The Association Between Family Planning and Psychological Distress in Individuals With Minoritized Gender Identities in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Falk Batz, Alaleh Zati Zehni, Eva Lermer, Maximilian Berger, Lennard Schröder, Joachim Behr, Sven Mahner, Christian J Thaler, Pichit Buspavanich

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Falk BatzDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Alaleh Zati ZehniDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Eva LermerDepartment of Business Psychology, Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
Maximilian BergerResearch Unit Gender in Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Lennard SchröderDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Joachim BehrDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Sven MahnerDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Christian J ThalerDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Pichit BuspavanichResearch Unit Gender in Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAmong transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals there is an increasing desire for parenthood. TGD individuals must overcome unique legal, social and physiological obstacles to realize their desire to become parents. Indeed, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, TGD individuals have experienced a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety and depression, which may be strenuous to all areas of life, including family planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany on decisions regarding family formation in TGD compared to cisgender individuals, and what role psychological distress might play in this.

methodsThe online survey included general demographic questions, domain-specific questions including gender identity and sexual orientation, questions related to psychological distress, the desire for parenthood as well as motives for and against parenthood.

resultsThe desire for parenthood was lower and the level of depressive symptoms was higher in TGD (n = 187) than in cisgender individuals (n = 2135) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the desire for parenthood was associated with a lower level of depressive symptoms, younger age, having one or more children and living in an urban area. Further associations are higher scores in the desire for emotional stabilization, as well as lower scores in fear of personal constraints and the desire for social recognition.

conclusionOur findings revealed that TGD individuals reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to cisgender participants and expressed a lower desire for parenthood. These results highlight the need for targeted support from social services and health care providers, particularly in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Tailored interventions are essential to address the mental health burden and to reduce the additional hurdles TGD individuals face when considering parenthood.

Indexed as

COVID-19Family Planning ServicesGender IdentityPsychological DistressTransgender PersonsAdolescentAdultAnxietyCross-Sectional StudiesDepressionFemaleGermanyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsdesire for parenthoodgender identitiespsychological distress

Identifiers

PMID41194336
PMCPMC12747643

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