Gender Dysphoria

What is gender dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria occurs when you are not satisfied with the gender you were born and raised with. You may have been born in a male body but feel like a woman. Or vice versa: you were born in a female body but feel like a man. It is also possible that you don’t identify with either gender, which is called non-binary.With gender dysphoria, your personal experience of yourself and the gender you assign to yourself (gender identity) does not match the gender you were born with. 

In what ways can you experience dissatisfaction if you have gender dysphoric feelings?

If you feel that your gender does not align with your birth gender, you may experience dissatisfaction in various areas.For example, you may be bothered by your:

• Gender.
• Voice.
• Body shape.
• Body hair.

What are the characteristics of gender dysphoria?

Everyone’s experience is personal and different, just as it is for cisgender men and women. Not every characteristic applies to every transgender person. However, there are several common characteristics. 

Characteristics of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents:

• A child has a strong desire to be of the opposite gender.
• A gender-dysphoric child often prefers to wear only clothing typically associated with the desired gender.
• During role-playing, a gender-dysphoric child prefers to play as someone of the desired gender.
• A gender-dysphoric child has a strong preference for toys or activities stereotypically associated with the opposite gender.
• Friendships are often formed with peers of the desired gender.
• Children may feel discomfort with their own physical sex characteristics and wish to have those of the other gender.

Characteristics of gender dysphoria later in life

Young adults with gender dysphoria may experience:

• A strong urge to be of a different gender than their birth gender.
• A strong aversion to their own physical sex characteristics and a desire to have different ones.
• The desire to be treated as another gender.

How is the diagnosis made?

If you feel that your birth gender does not suit you, your general practitioner will refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist from a gender team. Through assessments, conversations, and questionnaires, the psychiatrist or psychologist examines your situation. You will also discuss possible treatments and which one suits you best.Since this is a highly precise process and feels different for everyone, ample time is taken. Once the psychiatrists and psychologists have gathered enough information, they discuss it in a multidisciplinary team. This is followed by a consultation where the diagnosis and treatment options are discussed. 

What causes gender dysphoria?

There are indications that a disrupted hormone balance during pregnancy plays a role in the development of gender dysphoria. There are also suggestions that its origin lies in DNA. However, the exact cause of gender dysphoria remains unknown. 

How does gender dysphoria affect daily life?

Gender dysphoria can significantly impact your mental well-being. This often relates to how others perceive and respond to gender differences and roles. For example, transgender or non-binary people experience the following situations:

• You feel like you don’t belong anywhere.
• You often feel misunderstood.
• You can feel lonely.
• You think you are worth less than others or don’t accept yourself as you are.
• You find it difficult to make connections and build friendships.
• You can develop mood disorders and anxiety.
• You may experience intimacy as difficult.
• Your identity development follows a different path.

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