Gender Dysphoria

In teens and adults, a diagnosis of gender dysphoria includes distress due to gender identity differing from sex assigned at birth that lasts at least six months and involves two or more of the following:

• A difference between gender identity and genitals or secondary sex characteristics. Examples of those characteristics include breasts and facial hair. In young teens who haven’t started puberty, the distress may be caused by a difference between gender identity and the secondary sex characteristics that they expect will develop in their bodies.
• A strong desire to be rid of genitals or secondary sex characteristics, or a desire to prevent the development of secondary sex characteristics.
• A strong desire to have the genitals and secondary sex characteristics of another gender.
• A strong desire to be or to be treated as another gender.
• A strong belief of having the typical feelings and behaviors of another gender.

Gender dysphoria also includes distress that makes it hard to handle work, school, social situations and other parts of daily life.