What is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria refers to the distress or discomfort a transgender or gender-expansive person may feel if their birth-assigned sex does not align with their gender identity.
- Birth-assigned sex—also known as birth-designated sex or natal sex—is the sex (male or female) assigned at birth.
- Gender identity is a person's internal sense of being male, female, neither male nor female, or a combination of both male and female.
People who are significantly affected by gender dysphoria may choose to undergo medical and/or surgical treatment to transition physically and socially to the gender role they feel to be their true selves. A diagnosis for gender dysphoria was created to help people access the health care, treatment, and support they may need.