Ex-PBB housemate and transman Jesi Corcuera shares journey to getting pregnant
Transgender man Jesi Cocuera got candid about his pregnancy journey with his first child.
In an interview with Julius Babao on his YouTube channel, the StarStruck alum shared that when he and his partner Camille Corcuera reconciled in 2018, he had already been contemplating starting a family but was uncertain about the most suitable path to take.
"Noong time na 'yun, plano ko na mag-baby. Sabi ko unahin muna si baby bago ako magpa-bottom [surgery]... halo halo na 'yung pumapasok sa utak mo eh. Sabi ko, kailangan gamitin ko muna kung anong meron sa katawan ko bago ko siya tuluyang palitan," Jesi said.
Julius then asked, "You mean to say noong time na 'yan, ang kinokonsider mo na kaagad is ikaw ang magbubuntis hindi si partner mo?"
"No pa," Jesi answered. "Nagresearch muna ako. Doon ko narinig ang IVF (in vitro fertilization). Syempre kapag tumatanda ka, sa katawan ng babae, mayroong expiration eh. Hindi katulad sa mga katawan ng lalaki na anytime may mga nakakabuntis pa na senior."
IVF is a treatment where eggs are combined with sperm outside of your body in a lab.
After discovering that his reproductive viability typically diminishes around the age of 35, the then 25-year-old Pinoy Big Brother alumnus sought information regarding the process from a medical institution.
"Sadly, ang natanggap ko doon is, hindi inaallow 'yung case naming mga LGBT community. Ang inaallow ng mga hospital is 'yung mga asawang kasal. Kahit na babae at lalaki, kung hindi kayo kasal, hindi kayo iaallow, so medyo may struggle din sa part na 'yun," Jesi recounted.
He also thought about surrogacy, where another woman agrees to childbirth for them, but was discouraged by how difficult the process was.
"Kailangan mong i-travel si donor, kailangan mong i-travel si carrier, tapos kasama din ako kasi egg ko 'yung gagamitin so parang mahirap, kumplikado. Hindi lang siya physically [and] mentally, financially talagang butas din," Jesi said.
When he and Camille rekindled their romance after their six-year split, he had the chance to become a father figure to his partner's children, but he admitted that something else was missing.
"May kulang sa part ko. Hindi ko maibigay 'yung part ko na maging magulang nang todo. Get ko naman na hanggang dito lang ako, may boundaries kumabaga," Jesi shared.
"'Yun lang 'yung isa sa mga reason kung bakit unti-unti kong nabuhay 'yung plan ko na magbuntis," he added. "Tapos may mga times na hindi ko maintindihan 'yung partner ko as a parent kasi hindi mo siya maiintindihan kung hindi ka magulang eh."
After discussing with Camille his desire to have a child of his own, they began to research artificial insemination (AI), where a doctor inserts sperm directly into a woman's reproductive tract.
"Napunta ako sa option na, sige ako na lang ang magcacarry, kasi si AI, kakailanganin ko lang si donor na sperm para iinject sa akin kasi nasa loob ko naman na si egg eh, so mas madali siya compared sa IVF," Jesi explained.
He joined an online page to find the nurse who helped do the procedure as well as the donor, who he shared was a foreigner.
However, he expressed dismay regarding the limitations of AI in terms of accessing donor information such as their medical background.
"Parang nangyayari, suntok sa buwan, magdasal ka na lang kay Lord na sana clean, wala siyang kahit anong mga sakit. 'Yun 'yung parang panghahawakan mo," Jesi said.
Nevertheless, he and the donor had a sincere discussion before they underwent the process.
When the time finally came, Jesi couldn't help but question God why He had to make him go through this process just to have a child.
"'Yung pinagdaanan, 'yung hirap para mapunta ako sa ganoong position, nacocompare ako sa iba na nagkakapamilya na mabilis lang. Hindi kailangan pagdaanan 'yung mga pinagdaanan ko. Hindi ko maiwasang kwestyunin Siya eh," Jesi confessed.
"Pero dahil ginuide naman niya ako, pinagpray ko naman lahat, hindi ako nagagalit sa Kanya. Kinikwestyon ko lang kung bakit Niya binibigay 'yung task na ito sa'kin," he continued.
Jesi announced that he is expecting his first baby, who he affectionately called "Ninja," through posting photos from his maternity shoot on Instagram.
He underwent top surgery in 2021 to symbolize his freedom and way to becoming his most authentic self.
Jesi joined PBB in 2016 as a housemate during its "Lucky Season 7," where he had the moniker "Transman of the House ng Cavite."
He is now a YouTuber with over 270,000 subscribers. He regularly shares life updates, challenges, and games with his partner.