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Gender dysphoria occurs when a person feels strongly that the gender that corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth doesn't match the gender with which they identify.
When babies are born, they are assigned a sex based on their anatomy. Over time, children may come to feel that their anatomy isn't the gender they view themselves as. For example, a person with a vagina may feel that despite their anatomy, they are male and wish to have a male body. They may adopt behaviors that are identified with males and dress in stereotypical men's clothing. They may use a different name and prefer people refer to them using male pronouns.
Some people will go to varying lengths to change things in their lives that will more closely align with the sex they identify with. For example, some may ultimately undergo a medical transition with hormone therapy and a sex-change surgery. The level of transition is different for each person.
People with gender dysphoria feel anxiety or dissatisfaction with their gender. Some people may never openly admit to this discomfort. That's why it is unclear how common gender dysphoria is. Some individuals don't report their feelings for fear of ridicule, shame, or abandonment.
Gender dysphoria might cause adults and adolescents to experience:
An accurate diagnosis can help a person understand why their internal sense of gender feels different from their physical sex. A diagnosis can help a person feel less anxiety or fear. It may also help answer many questions a person has had for years.
Adolescents and adults with gender dysphoria experience a sense of disconnection between their sense of gender and their assigned gender. They also experience significant distress, and may have difficulty functioning because of it.
In order to receive a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, they must also experience at least two of the following:
Gender dysphoria isn't "treated" in the normal sense of the word. Treatment implies that it may go away or get better. Such isn't the case with gender dysphoria, nor is it the goal of gender dysphoria "treatment."
Instead, managing dysphoria is focused on helping people to find relief from the anxiety and discomfort it causes. For this, several options are available:
Many people with gender dysphoria experience anxiety and depression. In severe cases, self-harm behaviors may occur. Mental health treatment can help individuals learn to cope with these feelings in a healthy way.
If a child is diagnosed with gender dysphoria, doctors can use treatment to suppress the release of hormones during puberty. Without these hormones, the body does not develop secondary sex characteristics.
Some individuals may want to transition to their experienced gender. Hormone therapy can begin the process. People assigned female at birth can take testosterone supplements to encourage hair growth, muscle development, and a lower voice. Those assigned male at birth may take estrogen to encourage breast tissue growth, fat redistribution, and facial changes.
Some people with gender dysphoria want to alter their body so that it matches their experienced gender.
Transitioning genders can be difficult and challenging at any age. A team of doctors and professionals is vital. the period of transition is a combination of physical and mental changes, and the best way for people to face the changes is to have a team of people they can rely on and trust. This is especially important for children and adolescents, as their peers may be less understanding and sensitive to these changes.
No matter how you identify or what you are feeling, you are valid and perfect.