Gender dysphoria

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Gender dysphoria (sometimes but not preferably gender identity disorder[1]) is felt by individuals who experience significant discontent from their gender assigned at birth. It is also a formal psychological and psychiatric diagnosis. Not all authorities classify this as a mental illness; the National Health Service in the United Kingdom describes it as "a condition for which medical treatment is appropriate in some cases."[2]

Recent research has indicated that transgender people tend to have the same or similar brain structures as their identified gender, even before hormone replacement.[3][4] Possible causes of gender dysphoria include genetic reasons and prenatal exposure to particular hormones, among others.

As a minor concession to the trans community, in response to complaints that "gender identity disorder" was a stigmatizing term, the American Psychiatric Association changed the "Gender Identity Disorder" diagnostic category in the DSM-5 to "Gender Dysphoria" in 2013.[5] The APA, as well as the larger Western healthcare structures, remains highly conservative on the issue, to the point that there are thriving black and grey markets for prescription hormones and some cosmetic treatments. Some clinics have sought to move past this issue by offering "informed consent" prescriptions, for which a psychiatric diagnosis is not required.

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[edit] Gender dysphoria described by trans people

  • Note: These are purely anecdotal descriptions of gender dysphoria as described to User:Asarelah (who is cisgender) by trans people. They are not from peer-reviewed papers, but are included in an attempt to increase understanding of this condition, as it is clear that it is desperately needed.

[edit] Shoe metaphor

If you're wearing comfortable shoes, you don't spend all your time thinking about how your feet don't hurt. But if you're wearing uncomfortable shoes...ow, ow, ow.

[edit] As body horror

Some male assigned at birth individuals who feel dysphoric about their genitals describe the feeling as having a big raw chicken stapled between one's legs.

Try imagining how that must feel.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

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