You Don't Feel at Home With Your Assigned Gender - WebMD

Gender dysphoria is a condition that causes distress and discomfort when the gender you identify with conflicts with the sex that you were ... MenuMedicalReferenceFeaturesVideoSlideshows&ImagesNewsArchiveNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosBirthControlErectileDysfunctionFDADrugTrialsSnapshotHPV/GenitalWartsLowTestosteroneSex&RelationshipsSexHeadachesSexProblemsinMenSexualConditionsSexualHealthReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyBrunildaNazario, MDonMay20,2021InthisArticleSymptomsandDiagnosisUndiagnosedorUntreatedGenderDysphoriaTreatmentChildrenandGenderDysphoriaGenderdysphoria isaconditionthatcausesdistressanddiscomfortwhenthegenderyouidentifywithconflictswiththesexthatyouwereassignedatbirth.Youmayhavebeenassignedamalesexatbirthbutfeelthatyou’refemale,orviceversa.Oryoumaybelieveyourselftobeneithersex,orsomethinginbetweenorfluid.Thisdisconnectbetweenhowsocietyregardsyouandhowyoufeelphysicallyandmentallycancauseseveredistress, anxiety,and depression.Genderdysphoriausedtobecalled “genderidentitydisorder.”Butit’snota mentalillness.Genderdysphoriaisnotthesameassexualorientation.Gendernonconforming(GNC)isabroadtermthatincludespeoplewhosegenderidentityisn’tstrictlyfemaleormaleormovesbetweenthetwo.Othertermsforthisincludegenderqueer,gendercreative,genderindependent,bigender,noncisgender,nonbinary,andthirdsex.SymptomsandDiagnosisYouhavegenderdysphoriaifyouhavepersistentdistressorproblemsoveryourassignedgenderthatlasts6monthsorlonger.Inchildren,thesesymptomsincludeatleastsixofthefollowing:InsistingonorstronglydesiringthegenderthatdiffersfromonethatwasassignedatbirthWantingtoweartheclothingofthegenderwithwhichtheyidentifyStronglypreferringfriendsofthe gender withwhichtheyidentifyStronglypreferringtoys,activities,andgamestypicallyaimedatthegenderwithwhichtheyidentifyPreferenceforcross-genderrolesduringplayormake-believeRefusingmasculineorfemininetoys,games,andactivitiesthatdon’tmatchtheirgenderidentityDeepdislikeofthegenitalstheywerebornwithStrongdesireforsexcharacteristics,suchasbreastsorpenis,thatmatchtheirgenderidentityIn teens andadults,adiagnosisrequiresatleasttwoofthesetraits:Certaintythattheirgenderdoesn’tmatchwiththeirphysicalbodyStrongdesiretoberidoftheirgenitalsandothersextraitsDeepurgetohavethesexcharacteristicsofthegenderwithwhichtheyidentifyStrongwanttobeadifferentgenderStrongdesiretobetreatedasadifferentgenderDeepconvictionthattheirfeelingsandreactionsaretypicalfortheirgenderidentityChildrenoradultsmightdressandpresentthemselveslikethegendertheybelievetheyare.UndiagnosedorUntreatedGenderDysphoriaGenderdysphoriaisn’tanillness.Butthedistressfromitmaybelinkedtomentalhealthproblems,suchasanxietydisorders, schizophrenia, depression, substanceabusedisorder, eatingdisorders,and suicide attempts.Someestimatessaythat7outof10peoplewithgenderdysphoriawillhavesomeothermentalhealthdiagnosisintheirlifetime.TreatmentThegoalisnottochangehowthepersonfeelsabouttheirgender.Instead,treatmentistoaddresstheirdistressandotheremotionalharm.“Talk”therapywitha psychologist orpsychiatristisforakeypartoftreatmentforgenderdysphoria.Manypeoplealsodecidetotakeatleastsomestepstobringtheirphysicalappearanceinlinewithhowtheyfeelinside.Theymightchangethewaytheydressorpickadifferentname.Theymayalsotakehormonesandothermedicationorhavesurgery.Treatmentsinclude:Pubertyblockers.Thesearehormonesthatsuppressphysicalchangesofpuberty.Forsomeonewhoisanassignedfemale,theblocksmayholdbackthegrowthofbreasts.Hormones.Teensoradultsmaytakethesexhormones estrogen ortestosteronetodeveloptraitsofthesexthattheyidentifywith.Surgery. Somepeoplechoosetohavesex-reassignmentorgender-affirmingsurgeryafterayearofhormonetreatment.Thisusedtobecalledasex-changeoperation.Expertsrecommendsurgeryonlyafterage18andafterthepersonhaslivedintheirdesiredgenderfor2years.Withthehelpoftherapistsanddoctors,peoplecanchoosethetreatmentthat’sbestforthem.Thatmaydependinpartonifthey’resatisfiedwiththeirnewsocialrole,hormonalsideeffects,andwhethertheywantsurgicalchanges.Aftertransitioningtotheirdesiredgender,thepersonmaybenefitfromtherapy.Friends,family,andotherssometimesmaynotfullyunderstandorsupportthechanges.Thepersonalsowillneedtocontinuetoseetheirdoctorforhormonetherapyandtransition.ChildrenandGenderDysphoriaChildrenasyoungas2canstartshowingcross-genderbehaviors.Notallofthemwillcontinuetofeelgenderdysphoriaintotheirteensoradulthood.Kidswhoexpressstrongviewsthatthey’reinthewronggender(suchasaboywhosays,“I’magirl”)aremorelikelytobecometransgenderadults.Expertsadvisethatyoutaketheleadfromyourchild.Letyourchildbewhotheyare,andgethelpifyouoryourchildneedsit.Ifgenderdysphoriagoespastpuberty,studiesshowthattheyoungpersonwilllikelycontinuetofeelthatway.Forthem,theirinternalsenseofgenderisnotachoice.Itiswhotheyare,andtheyneedprofessionalandsocialsupport.ScrollDownfortheNextArticle[vid_icon]TheChangingMaleOrgasmHowDiabetesAffectsaWoman'sSexualHealthQuiz:TheTruthAboutCondomsThingsYouShould(andShouldn't)DoAfterSex13BiggestBedroomWorriesforMenSexQuiz:FactorFiction?TherapyFromaDistanceWhenCybertherapyGoesBadTherapy:DoesItEverEnd?HowtoFindaTherapistIsOnlineHelpSafe?TherapyforTeens:WhattoExpectPsychotherapy/CounselingTopicsLowLibido?13sex-dri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