What is Gender Dysphoria?
Gender Dysphoria is psychological distress that comes from discrepancies between one’s sex that was assigned at birth and one’s own gender identity. Transgender or gender non-conforming individuals may experience this condition at a certain point in their lives. Most often it can start during childhood.
How are Children Diagnosed With Gender Dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria in children is diagnosed if they experience notable distress for at least six months with the following symptoms:
- A strong preference to wear clothes that are socially considered for the opposite gender.
- A strong desire to be another gender or insist that they are another gender.
- A strong preference for friends that are of the opposite gender.
- An intense dislike for their sexual anatomy.
- A strong preference for toys that are typical of the opposite gender.
- A strong desire for physical sex characteristics of the opposite gender.
- Frequently engages in cross-gender dressing in make-believe games.
Gender Dysphoria Treatment
Gender Dysphoria in children or adults is a medical diagnosis that doesn’t require treatment until the individual has reached puberty. The goal of gender dysphoria treatment is to address the negative emotions associated with the gender assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria treatment is most effective with a team of clinicians that are involved with social work, psychology, urology, and surgery. Some of the treatment options include counseling, hormonal therapy, and surgery that would involve breast augmentation or bottom surgery. For more information, contact the International Center for Transgender Care at
www.thetranscenter.com
