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Introduction
Coming to terms with Transsexuality
The next steps
The history of Transsexuality
References

Introduction

Gender Dysphoria is a biological condition, it's sufferers are people called transsexuals. This condition is recognised by the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, version four (DSM-IV, 1996) and the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Disorders (1992). This condition, according to these publications, is separate from homosexuality, transvestism and other transgender disorders.

Scientific research has been undertaken whilst conducting post mortem examinations, autopsies, on people born with gender dysphoria which has shown that they had the brain of the opposite sex to that given to them at birth. Studies have been undertaken showing that gender dysphoria does not only occur in humans, but also in other mammals including apes, dogs, cats, mice and rats. Also, since all foetuses begin life as female neuter, all males are born with nipples and the scar remnants of their original female sex.

Transsexuality is caused as a result of hormone changes in the uterus during the second month of development and their effect on the unborn baby. This condition may be brought on by the presence of chemicals similar to human hormones during this critical stage of the development of the baby's brain. These hormones are similar to androgens, especially testosterone and oestrogens, which create the male or female characteristics, respectively. The brain is extremely delicate and hence, sensitive at this crucial stage so a small change in chemicals such as hormones can make a major difference to the brain's development.

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Coming to terms with Transsexuality.

Transsexuals often realise themselves that there are problems at about age 5, but many repress these feelings in order to fit in with their parent's, family's and friend's expectations. Consequently, those sufferers who repress their true identities until later in life may not always recognise their transsexuality during puberty and later teenage years, even when this time creates inner conflicts for the individual.

Whilst growing up there can be evidence of the child being transsexual. In the case of socialisation, the transsexual child would find that they would receive rebuffs from they perceived peer group such as "You can't play with us, you're a boy" for the male to female child or "you can't play with us because you're a girl" for the female to male child. It is as a result of this incompatibility that repression occurs with many young transsexuals who try to "fit in" with their apparently correct peer group. This can then lead to the transsexual child being on the receiving end of bullying, this comes to the fore when the child enters their teens.

As adults, the transsexual can lose the support of their families and friends when repression is removed, and they start to live their lives as their true selves. Conversely, if the repressions are not removed, the result can unfortunately be fatal. The reason for this is that the transsexual cannot live the whole of their life without having very strong internal is incapable, for whatever reason, of coming to terms with their true identity, any fatalities normally occur by the age of 30 years.

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The Next Steps

This condition is not curable, except by undergoing gender reassignment (a sex change), as the brain cannot be adapted to suit the body. In order to qualify for gender reassignment surgery, the transsexual has to undertake a "Real Life Test" (RLT); in the role of the gender they perceive themselves to be. The Real Life Test is over a period of time, not usually less than one year, but normally a two year period is required. This is to ensure that the transsexual person can adapt to their perceived gender role. During the Real Life Test, the transsexual will receive the required hormones, either androgens or oestrogens to further ensure their compatibility with their perceived gender. On completion of the Real Life Test, the transsexual could be recommended for surgery. After reassignment surgery, the individual is technically no longer transsexual but man to woman (or FTM) because the individual's sexual identity now matches their gender identity, their physical sex matches their brain sex.

Males and females are both affected by gender dysphoria in equal numbers, and there are estimated to be at least 25,000 transsexuals in the United Kingdom, according to the British Medical Authority. At the time of writing, there are some 500 or so Transsexuals in Wales (pre and post operative) who are under medical supervision for this condition. Of this number, only about 20 to 25 percent of transsexuals who do undergo gender reassignment surgery are Female to Male (FTM), since this transition requires more involved and intricate surgery than for Male to Female. At the risk of sounding a little simplistic, it's easier to take bits off than to put bits on.

Before gender reassignment, over 80% of transsexuals seriously consider, attempt or do commit suicide, whereas post-operatively, this figure reduces to less than one percent. This figure is very much in line with the rest of the population.

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The History of Transsexualism.

Transsexuality and gender dysphoria has a long history, probably going back to palaeolithic periods of time. This can be deduced by considering the societies of aboriginal peoples who still live with "stone-age" technologies. These societies reserve honoured positions for transsexuals among their people, being considered magical, akin to gods or spirits and possessed of shamanic powers. Examples include the Gallae of ancient Rome, who were worshippers of the Goddess Cybele, the Nadles of the South West Navajos, the Winkte of the Sioux, the Sererr of the Kenyan Pokots, the Xanith of Islamic Oman, the Mahu of Tahiti, the Sekrata of Madagascar and the Hijiras of present day India.

Surgical gender reassignment was first attempted in Germany in 1930 on Herr Einar Wegener, who then became Lily Elbe. Sadly, Lily did not survive very long following the surgery due to tragic surgical complications. The first surviving post-operative person was an American GI. He was George Jorgensen who became Christine Jorgensen in 1953.

During the 1950's and 1960's, Doctor Harry Benjamin undertook the first research into gender dysphoria. In 1966, Dr Benjamin published "The Transsexual Phenomenon", a book based upon his documented studies. This first publication highlighted gender dysphoria as being of biological origin, which started much of the research which continues to the present day.

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References