A trans man who donated his eggs to his sister after she suffered a “traumatizing” miscarriage and fertility problems said it was the “easiest decision” he has ever made.
Kenny Ethan Jones, 30, has collected 13 of her eggs so far and decided to donate them to his sister, Kizzy, 38, after she struggled to get pregnant for six years, he reveals in an emotional video.
The author and activist, from Kilburn, London, originally wanted to undergo the procedure, in which the patient takes medication and undergoes surgery to retrieve her eggs, after transitioning.
But her gender dysphoria (a feeling of discomfort someone may have with their gender) was so severe that she needed to prioritize her mental health.
However, in 2019, after a long conversation with Kizzy about her fertility, he offered to donate his eggs to her.
Kizzy, an artist and single mother from London, now has an appointment next week at the same hospital where Mr Jones was recovered and has dismissed concerns that people may think she is “having her brother’s baby” .
On May 8, 2024, Kenny Ethan Jones, 30, underwent surgery. Surgeons recovered 19 eggs in total: They froze 11 and let the other eight “ripen” overnight.
The eggs will need to be tested, which will take three months, and her sister is eager to get “on the road” as soon as possible.
Kizzy has been trying to have a baby since 2018, but has not been formally diagnosed with any fertility issues even though she was never able to carry a baby to term.
In 2019 she suffered a “traumatizing” miscarriage during which she had to deliver the fetus.
She began researching IVF for herself and was surprised by the low chances of having a successful pregnancy.
She said: “I know the problem for me is down to the age of my eggs, Kenny knew that and he knows the miscarriages I’ve had and how horrible they have been.”
Mr Jones (left) has collected 13 of her eggs so far and decided to donate them to his sister, Kizzy, 38, (right) after she struggled to get pregnant for six years.
In 2019, after a long conversation with Kizzy about her fertility, he offered to donate his eggs to her.
Jones said he spent “hours” on the phone comforting her and listening to her concerns.
“As his brother, I’m sitting on the phone asking how I can help,” he said.
‘But one day, a joking conversation turned serious.
“I said, ‘You can have my balls if you want.’
‘She said, “Are you serious?”
‘I wasn’t even sure if it was a possibility: trans healthcare is so understudied.
“So we both went and did our own research, and we found some trans men who had their eggs removed.”
Within weeks, Mr Jones contacted the NHS to find out if it was possible for him to undergo the egg retrieval procedure.
“This decision seemed so easy to me, it felt so good in my heart – I never for a second doubted what this meant to my sister,” Mr Jones said.
‘I did it for Kizzy and I think what unites us is that we have the same mother, who passed away a few years ago.
“She’s done a lot to take care of me and I thought, ‘if I can give her this, I will.'”
Jones (pictured), an author and activist from Kilburn, London, originally wanted to undergo the procedure, in which the patient takes medication and undergoes surgery to retrieve her eggs, after transitioning. But for Jones, his gender dysphoria (a feeling of discomfort someone may have with their gender) was so severe that he needed to prioritize his mental health.
The brother, pictured, says they are very close and that egg donation has been an incredible opportunity.
While patients are not allowed to collect their eggs specifically for donation, she was told that people are free to do whatever they want with them after they have been retrieved.
The process of accepting his application was delayed four years due to Covid and he was placed on a waiting list.
He said: ‘I got the call in November last year; They just said “when would you like to start?”
“It seemed so simple to me: I called Kizzy and asked her when she wanted me to start.”
For Mr. Jones, his mental health took priority and at least At his first appointment, he was referred to a therapist who explained each step.
Upon learning that she would need an internal examination, using a monitor that is inserted into the vagina, she was worried about feeling intense gender dysphoria.
“The therapist suggested not doing an internal scan every time, because they can just do the ultrasound on the abdomen,” she said.
“I was worried about it, but I’m at a point where I’m so confident in my body that I could handle it.”
‘But I was worried there would be people sitting in the waiting room looking at me.
‘Or that the procedure would affect my testosterone levels.
‘It was really reassuring to know that, while there is little to no research on trans people, women with higher levels of testosterone are said to have more eggs in their flow.
“My specific doctor had trans patients before, so it was really cool.”
Jones said he didn’t feel “less of a man” during this process and didn’t get any “funny” looks.
Doctors told Mr. Jones the procedure was urgent, so he spent 10 days before the procedure taking four medications a day.
That involved injecting two medications into his stomach and taking two orally.
On the last day, she took a “trigger” medication in the form of a nasal spray, which stops the ovaries from releasing eggs for a short period.
On May 8, 2024, Mr. Jones underwent surgery.
Surgeons recovered 19 eggs in total: They froze 11 and let the other eight “ripen” overnight.
They were then able to take another two eggs from the mature set, collecting 13 in total.
“I was panicking before the surgery,” he said.
“But Kizzy calmed me down and said, ‘You’ve had top surgery, you’re going to be fine.’
‘I don’t remember falling asleep, but I do remember waking up drinking sugary drinks like hot chocolate.
“They called me afterwards to make sure I was okay and I had to let my body recover.”
Mr Jones said his experience was hugely positive and he was grateful to be able to give this gift to his sister.
Mr. Jones said Her experience was hugely positive and she had an action plan to feel better when she needed it.
He said: “I was very aware that this is a gift that I could give my sister here and now, and it won’t last forever.”
‘I let my friends know that I might need to vent, cry and get angry, because I can get triggered.
“Not once did I feel like I was seen as ‘less of a man’ during this process.
“I never got a funny look from anyone, and I feel like the doctors really put effort into my care plan as a trans man.”
‘I talk a lot about helping trans people alleviate dysphoria during procedures like these in my book “Dear Cisgender People.”‘
Kizzy said: “We are very close brothers, I always looked after him during his teenage years.”
“We have a very close bond; for us, I think it’s amazing that he’s giving me this opportunity.”
‘Fingers crossed it works.
“It’s incredible for him; I know it’s been a difficult process.”
“That makes it really special.”
“I know people might think I’m ‘having my brother’s baby,’ but to me there’s nothing strange about it,” she added.