Gender transition: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:21, 23 May 2025

Revision as of 21:52, 6 July 2025

Line 2:

{{Redirect|Gender change|sex change|Sex change (disambiguation){{!}}Sex change}}

{{Transgender sidebar}}

'''Gender transition''' is the process of [[Gender affirmation|affirming]] and [[Gender expression|expressing]] one's [[Gender identity|internal sense of gender]], rather than the sex [[Sex assignment|assigned to them at birth]]. It is a recommended course of treatment for individuals experiencing [[gender dysphoria]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Medical Association |date=October 2015 |title=WMA Statement on Transgender People |url=https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-statement-on-transgender-people/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-22 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2024 |title=APA adopts groundbreaking policy supporting transgender, gender diverse, nonbinary individuals |url=https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2024/02/policy-supporting-transgender-nonbinary |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=American Psychological Association}}</ref> providing improved mental health outcomes in the majority of people.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Baker |first1=Kellan E |last2=Wilson |first2=Lisa M |last3=Sharma |first3=Ritu |last4=Dukhanin |first4=Vadim |last5=McArthur |first5=Kristen |last6=Robinson |first6=Karen A |date=April 2021 |title=Hormone Therapy, Mental Health, and Quality of Life Among Transgender People: A Systematic Review |journal=Journal of the Endocrine Society |publication-date=2 February 2021 |volume=5 |issue=4|pages=bvab011 |doi=10.1210/jendso/bvab011 |doi-access=free |pmid=33644622 |pmc=7894249 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |lastlast1=Shelemy |firstfirst1=Lucas |last2=Cotton |first2=Sue |last3=Crane |first3=Catherine |last4=Knight |first4=Matthew |date=2024 |title=Systematic review of prospective adult mental health outcomes following affirmative interventions for gender dysphoria |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26895269.2024.2333525 |journal=International Journal of Transgender Health |volume=0 |issue=0 |pages=1–21 |doi=10.1080/26895269.2024.2333525 |issn=2689-5269|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |lastlast1=Dhejne |firstfirst1=Cecilia |last2=Van Vlerken |first2=Roy |last3=Heylens |first3=Gunter |last4=Arcelus |first4=Jon |date=2016 |title=Mental health and gender dysphoria: A review of the literature |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26835611 |journal=International Review of Psychiatry |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=44–57 |doi=10.3109/09540261.2015.1115753 |issn=1369-1627 |pmid=26835611}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cornell University |date=2018 |title=What does the scholarly research say about the effect of gender transition on transgender well-being? |url=https://whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-the-well-being-of-transgender-people/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=What We Know Project |language=en-US}}</ref>

A '''social transition''' may include coming out as transgender,{{Efn|While the label Transgender is used here, people of diverse gender identities may socially or medically transition.|name=a|group=lower-alpha}} using a new name and pronouns, and changing one's public gender expression.<ref name="Brown&Rounsley">Brown, M. L. & Rounsley, C. A. (1996) ''True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism – For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals'' Jossey-Bass: San Francisco {{ISBN|0-7879-6702-5}}</ref> This is usually the first step in a gender transition. People socially transition at almost any age,<ref name=":3"/><ref name=":4"/> as a social transition does not involve medical procedures. It can, however, be a prerequisite to accessing transgender healthcare in many places.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

Line 30:

It is important to note that most transgender individuals will receive few, if any, surgeries throughout their lifetimes and some may never receive HRT. Barriers to accessing medical transitioning can include: a lack of financing, a lack of desire, or a lack of accessibility. There is no one way to transition, and while a medical transition or surgery can absolutely be medically necessary for some individuals' personal wellbeing, no two transitions are the same.

* [[Puberty blockers|'''Puberty blockers / hormone blockers''']] are terms that refer to medications used to block natal sex hormones. For transgender youth, hormone blockers may be offered at the onset of puberty to allow the exploration of their gender identity without the distress<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Turban |first1=Jack L. |last2=King |first2=Dana |last3=Carswell |first3=Jeremi M. |last4=Keuroghlian |first4=Alex S. |date=1 February 2020 |title=Pubertal Suppression for Transgender Youth and Risk of Suicidal Ideation |url=https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/2/e20191725/68259/Pubertal-Suppression-for-Transgender-Youth-and?autologincheck=redirected |pmid=31974216 |access-date=2024-07-21 |journal=Pediatrics|volume=145 |issue=2 |doi=10.1542/peds.2019-1725 |pmc=7073269 }}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Lambrese |first=Jason |date=2010-08-01 |title=Suppression of Puberty in Transgender Children |url=https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/suppression-puberty-transgender-children/2010-08 |journal=AMA Journal of Ethics |language=en |volume=12 |issue=8 |pages=645–649 |doi=10.1001/virtualmentor.2010.12.8.jdsc1-1008 |issn=2376-6980 |pmid=23186849|url-access=subscription }}</ref> of [[Puberty|irreversible pubertal changes]]. Puberty blockers are considered reversible<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Rölver |first1=Angela |last2=Föcker |first2=Manuel |last3=Romer |first3=Georg |date=2022 |title=Desisting from gender dysphoria after 1,5 years of puberty suppression: A case report |department=Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |journal=University Hospital Münster |volume=1 |issue=2 |article-number=100049 |doi=10.1016/j.psycr.2022.100049|doi-access=free }}</ref> and their use is deemed safe and effective<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rew |first1=Lynn |last2=Young |first2=Cara C. |last3=Monge |first3=Maria |last4=Bogucka |first4=Roxanne |date=February 2021 |title=Review: Puberty blockers for transgender and gender diverse youth—a critical review of the literature |url=https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/camh.12437 |journal=Child and Adolescent Mental Health |language=en |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=3–14 |doi=10.1111/camh.12437 |issn=1475-357X |pmid=33320999|url-access=subscription }}</ref> as treatment for gender dysphoria in gender-diverse children<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Giordano |first1=Simona |last2=Holm |first2=Søren |date=2020-04-02 |title=Is puberty delaying treatment 'experimental treatment'? |journal=International Journal of Transgender Health |language=en |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=113–121 |doi=10.1080/26895269.2020.1747768 |issn=2689-5269 |pmc=7430465 |pmid=33015663}}</ref> and [[precocious puberty]] in [[cisgender]] children;<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Eugster |first=Erica A |date=May 2019 |title=Treatment of Central Precocious Puberty |journal=Journal of the Endocrine Society |volume=3 |issue=5 |pages=965–972 |doi=10.1210/js.2019-00036 |pmc=6486823 |pmid=31041427}}</ref> their use may be discontinued at any time if natal puberty-blocking is no longer desired.<ref name=":2" /> For transgender adults, hormone blockers may be offered in a course with cross-sex hormone replacement therapy in order to treat gender dysphoria.

* [[Transgender hormone therapy|'''Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)''']] is a medical treatment that replaces the primary sex hormones in one's body, in order to develop the secondary sex characteristics of the opposite sex. Individuals seeking masculinizing HRT are prescribed the male sex hormone [[testosterone]], while individuals seeking feminizing HRT are prescribed the female sex hormone [[estrogen]].

* [[Transgender voice therapy|'''Voice therapy''']] (or '[[Transgender voice therapy|'''voice training''']]') refers to a ''non-surgical'' gender-affirming treatment for the masculinization or feminization of one's voice. ''Transfeminine people'' will not experience any impact on voice pitch from feminizing hormone therapy (unless their natal puberty was sufficiently blocked), so voice training is very often underwent in order to learn how to speak in a higher and more feminine register. ''Transmasculine people'', on the other hand, will experience a marked lowering in pitch from masculinizing HRT (testosterone) to an often cisgender male level, so vocal masculinization training is uncommon outside of those who have not underwent masculinizing HRT. Irrespectively, vocal masculinization training can help one learn to speak in a lower and more masculine register.

Line 49:

===Social aspects===

{{redirect|Social transitioning|social changes on a societal level|Social change}}

The social process of transitioning begins with '[[coming out]]', where others are told that one does not identify with their [[Sex assignment|birth sex]]. The newly out trans person may adopt a new name, ask to be referred to with a new set of pronouns, and change their presentation to better reflect their identity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=Kristina R. |last2=Durwood |first2=Lily |last3=Horton |first3=Rachel |last4=Gallagher |first4=Natalie M. |last5=Devor |first5=Aaron |date=13 July 2022 |title=Gender Identity 5 Years After Social Transition |url=https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/2/e2021056082/186992/Gender-Identity-5-Years-After-Social-Transition?autologincheck=redirected |access-date=2024-07-21 |journal=Pediatrics|volume=150 |issue=2 |doi=10.1542/peds.2021-056082 |pmid=35505568 |pmc=9936352 }}</ref><ref name="Bigner" /> Socially transitioning does not involve medical intervention or gender affirming surgery, but it may be a prerequisite to access transgender healthcare in some regions.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Evans |first1=Shelley |last2=Crawley |first2=Jamie |last3=Kane |first3=Debbie |last4=Edmunds |first4=Kathryn |date=December 2021 |title=The process of transitioning for the transgender individual and the nursing imperative: A narrative review |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.14943 |journal=Journal of Advanced Nursing |language=en |volume=77 |issue=12 |pages=4646–4660 |doi=10.1111/jan.14943 |pmid=34252206 |issn=0309-2402|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite webjournal |last=Rachlin |first=Katherine |title=Medical Transition without Social Transition: Expanding Options for Privately Gendered Bodies |url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/tsq/article-abstract/5/2/228/134507/Medical-Transition-without-Social |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=read.dukeupress.edu|date=May 2018 |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=228–244 |doi=10.1215/23289252-4348660 }}</ref>

People may socially transition at any age, with documented cases of children as [[Transgender youth|young as 5]],<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Kennedy |first1=Natacha |last2=Hellen |first2=Mark |date=2010 |title=Transgender Children: more than a theoretical challenge |url=https://www.gjss.org/sites/default/files/issues/chapters/papers/Journal-07-02--02-Kennedy-Hellen.pdf |journal=Graduate Journal of Social Science}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=Kristina R. |last2=Gülgöz |first2=Selin |date=June 2018 |title=Early Findings From the TransYouth Project: Gender Development in Transgender Children |url=https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdep.12268 |journal=Child Development Perspectives |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=93–97 |doi=10.1111/cdep.12268 |issn=1750-8592}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=Kristina R. |last2=Key |first2=Aidan C. |last3=Eaton |first3=Nicholas R. |date=April 2015 |title=Gender Cognition in Transgender Children |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797614568156 |journal=Psychological Science |language=en |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=467–474 |doi=10.1177/0956797614568156 |pmid=25749700 |issn=0956-7976|url-access=subscription }}</ref> or adults as [[Late transitioners|old as 75]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Fabbre |first=Vanessa D. |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315731803-5/gender-transitions-later-life-significance-time-queer-aging-vanessa-fabbre |title=Gender Transitions in Later Life: The Significance of Time in Queer Aging |date=2015 |isbn=9781315731803 |doi=10.4324/9781315731803-5|doi-broken-date=6 July 2025 }}</ref> While many of those who socially transition will pursue a medical transition, not everyone can access gender affirming care, and not all may wish to pursue it.

=== Psychological aspects ===