Gender & identity

Gender dysphoria

Alsodysphoriagender incongruencedysphoricgender identity disorderGID

Definition

Distress or discomfort that some people feel because of a mismatch between their gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth or their sex characteristics.

At a glance

  • Gender dysphoria is distress linked to a mismatch between gender identity and assigned sex or body.
  • It can relate to the body or to social situations, such as being misgendered.
  • Its intensity varies between people and over time.
  • It is a diagnostic term in the DSM-5; the WHO's ICD-11 uses gender incongruence instead.
  • Not every trans person experiences dysphoria, and being trans is not an illness.

In detail

Dysphoria can relate to the body, such as discomfort with particular physical features, or to social situations, such as being addressed with the wrong name or pronouns. Its intensity varies a great deal between people and over time.

Gender dysphoria is a diagnostic term in the American DSM-5. The World Health Organization's ICD-11 instead uses gender incongruence and places it in a chapter on sexual health rather than mental disorders. Not every trans person experiences dysphoria, and being transgender is not in itself considered an illness. Support and treatment options are best discussed with a qualified clinician.

In a sentence

  • Being called the wrong name at work made my gender dysphoria much worse.
  • Her GP referred her to a specialist service to talk about gender dysphoria.

Where the word comes from

Dysphoria comes from Greek and means something like hard to bear. Gender dysphoria replaced the older diagnosis gender identity disorder when the DSM-5 was published in 2013.

Not to be confused with

  • Transgender

    Transgender is an identity; dysphoria is a form of distress that some, but not all, trans people experience.

Common questions

Do you need gender dysphoria to be trans?

No. Many trans people experience dysphoria, but not all do. Being trans is about gender identity, and some people describe their identity mainly through gender euphoria rather than distress.

What is the difference between gender dysphoria and gender incongruence?

Gender dysphoria, used in the American DSM-5, focuses on distress. Gender incongruence, used in the World Health Organization's ICD-11, describes the mismatch itself and is placed in a chapter on sexual health rather than mental disorders.

Where can someone get support for gender dysphoria?

A good starting point is a family doctor or a qualified clinician experienced in gender health. Peer support groups and trans-led charities can also help. Options and services differ between countries.

Related terms

Sources

  1. NHSGender dysphoria
  2. American Psychological AssociationTransgender people, gender identity and gender expression