Condition : Gender dysphoria

Condition Gender dysphoria

What is gender dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease you have because of a mismatch between your biological sex and gender identity.

Your gender identity is your sense of being ‘male’ or ‘female’, while your biological sex is defined by the physical characteristics you were born with.

If you have gender dysphoria, you might have a strong dislike of the genitals you were born with, or want to hide or get rid of physical signs of your biological sex

Gender dysphoria is not a mental illness, but it can cause mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

Children can seem confused about their gender identity, and they might roleplay, but, in most cases, their feelings disappear over time.

What causes gender dysphoria?

The exact cause of gender dysphoria is unclear.

Gender development is complex and there are still things that are not known or fully understood.

Gender dysphoria is not related to sexual orientation. People with gender dysphoria may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Next steps

If you have gender dysphoria and it is affecting your mental health, then a healthcare professional may be able to help with feelings of depression or anxiety.

Step 1. Check out our advice

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Step 2. Contact a Healthcare Professional

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Step 3. View our services

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