Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents

Abstract

The incompatibility of genetically and biologically determined gender at birth and gender identity is defined as gender dysphoria (gender discontentment). Although it is seen from childhood, this picture is aggravated in adolescence when secondary sex characteristics develop. Therefore, the individual should be evaluated with the DSM-V diagnostic criteria, and after obtaining the necessary medical consents, puberty should be suppressed with GnRH agonists, which is a reversible treatment, and the next step, puberty induction, should be applied in patients with medical indications. For sex-changing surgeries, rushing should be avoided as it is completely irreversible, and the subject should be considered in detail. In case of an indication, all fertility options should be presented in detail before the operation. In addition to all these, stigmatizing adolescents with sexual dysphoria should be avoided for the continuation of healthy generations, and psychological support should be provided to these individuals due to the psychopathological conditions accompanying them at every stage of treatment.

Keywords

• gender
• dysphoria
• adolescent