Gender dysphoria - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Gender dysphoria is the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforGenderdysphoriaSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Print OverviewGenderdysphoriaisthefeelingofdiscomfortordistressthatmightoccurinpeoplewhosegenderidentitydiffersfromtheirsexassignedatbirthorsex-relatedphysicalcharacteristics. Transgenderandgender-nonconformingpeoplemightexperiencegenderdysphoriaatsomepointintheirlives.Butnoteveryoneisaffected.Sometransgenderandgender-nonconformingpeoplefeelateasewiththeirbodies,eitherwithorwithoutmedicalintervention. GenderdysphoriaisadiagnosislistedintheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders(DSM-5),amanualpublishedbytheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationtodiagnosementalconditions.Thistermisintendedtobemoredescriptivethantheonethatwaspreviouslyused,genderidentitydisorder.Thetermgenderdysphoriafocusesonone'sdiscomfortastheproblem,ratherthanidentity.Adiagnosisforgenderdysphoriawascreatedtohelppeoplegetaccesstonecessaryhealthcareandeffectivetreatment.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsGenderdysphoriamightcauseadolescentsandadultstoexperience: Amarkeddifferencebetweenyourinnergenderidentityandassignedgenderlastingatleastsixmonths,asshownbyatleasttwoofthefollowing: Amarkeddifferencebetweenyourinnergenderidentityandprimaryand/orsecondarysexcharacteristics,oranticipatedsecondarysexcharacteristicsinyoungadolescents Astrongdesiretoberidofprimaryand/orsecondarysexcharacteristicsbecauseofamarkeddifferencewithyourinnergenderidentity,oradesiretopreventthedevelopmentofanticipatedsecondarysexcharacteristicsinyoungadolescents Astrongdesirefortheprimaryand/orsecondarysexcharacteristicsoftheothergender Astrongdesiretobeoftheothergenderoranalternategenderdifferentfromassignedgender Astrongdesiretobetreatedastheothergenderoranalternategenderdifferentfromassignedgender Astrongconvictionthatyouhavetypicalfeelingsandreactionsoftheothergenderoranalternategenderdifferentfromassignedgender Significantdistressorimpairmentinsocial,occupationalorotherareasoffunctioning Genderdysphoriamightstartinchildhoodandcontinueintoadolescenceandadulthood(earlyonset).Or,youmighthaveperiodsinwhichyounolongerexperiencegenderdysphoriafollowedbyarecurrenceofgenderdysphoria.Youmightalsoexperiencegenderdysphoriaaroundthetimeofpubertyormuchlaterinlife(lateonset). ComplicationsGenderdysphoriacanimpairmanyaspectsoflife.Preoccupationwithbeingofanothergenderthantheoneassignedofteninterfereswithdailyactivities.Peopleexperiencinggenderdysphoriamightrefusetogotoschool,duetopressuretodressinawaythat'sassociatedwiththeirsexoroutoffearofbeingharassedorteased.Genderdysphoriacanalsoimpairtheabilitytofunctionatschooloratwork,resultinginschooldropoutorunemployment.Relationshipdifficultiesarecommon.Anxiety,depression,self-harm,eatingdisorders,substanceabuseandotherproblemscanoccur. Peoplewhohavegenderdysphoriaalsooftenexperiencediscrimination,resultinginminoritystress.Accesstohealthservicesandmentalhealthservicescanbedifficult,duetofearofstigmaandalackofexperiencedproviders. Adolescentsandadultswithgenderdysphoriabeforegenderreassignmentmightbeatriskofsuicidalideation,suicideattemptsandsuicide.Aftergenderreassignment,suicideriskmightcontinue. ByMayoClinicStaff GenderdysphoriacareatMayoClinic RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment Dec.06,2019 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Erickson-SchrothL.,ed.General,sexual,andreproductivehealth.In:TransBodies,TransSelves:AResourcefortheTransgenderCommunity.OxfordUniversityPress;2014. BonifacioJH,etal.Managementofgenderdysphoriainadolescentsinprimarycare.CMAJ.2019;doi:10.1503/cmaj.180672. AskMayoExpert.Genderdysphoria(adult).MayoClinic;2019. MakadonHJ,etal.Creatingafoundationforimprovingtranshealth:Understandingtransidentitiesandhealthcareneeds.In:FenwayGuidetoLesbian,Gay,Bisexual,andTransgenderHealth.2nded.AmericanCollegeofPhysicians;2015. Genderdysphoria.In:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersDSM-5.5thed.AmericanPsychiatricAssociation;2013.https://.dsm.psychiatryonline.org.AccessedMarch28,2019. WorldProfessionalAssociationforTransgenderHealth.Standardsofcareforthehealthoftranssexual,transgenderandgendernonconformingpeople,7thversion.http://www.wpath.org.AccessedApril5,2019. Related Pubertalblockers AssociatedProcedures Feminizinghormonetherapy Feminizingsurgery Masculinizinghormonetherapy Masculinizingsurgery Topsurgeryfortransgendermen Voicefeminizingtherapyandsurgery Showmoreassociatedprocedures NewsfromMayoClinic MayoClinicQ&Apodcast:Caringfortransgenderandgender-diversechildren,teens Oct.29,2021,01:14p.m.CDT Advocatingfortransgenderchildren'shealthcare Aug.05,2021,02:54p.m.CDT Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic GenderdysphoriaSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. 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