Health Topics for Mental and Emotional Health

Department of Psychiatry

Gender identity disorder

While growing up, most people have occasional thoughts about the advantages of being the other sex. A girl may say she wishes she were a boy so she could do something she has seen her brother do. A boy may say he wishes he were a girl so he could play with his sister's friends. However, most people grow up feeling that they are glad to be the gender they are.

People with gender identity disorder do not feel this way at all. They feel trapped in the body of the wrong sex. Most children with gender identity disorder will show all or almost all of the following signs. They will:

• repeatedly state the desire to be of the other sex, or state that he or she is the other sex
• insist on wearing clothing usually associated with the other sex
• show a strong preference for acting out roles of the other sex in play
• show a strong preference for playmates of the other sex and
• show an intense desire to engage in activities usually associated with the other sex

Another part to gender identity disorder is an ongoing sense of discomfort with one's physical sex or sexual roles. Children with this disorder tend to dislike their own sexual organs as well as clothes and roles associated with their gender. A girl who likes rough and tumble sports, but also likes wearing pretty dresses, does not have this disorder. A boy who prefers cooking to sports, but also indicates that he likes being a boy, does not have this disorder.

It is usually a distressing disorder to have. Most people with it will grow up feeling rejected and out of place. Suicide attempts and substance abuse are common. Most adolescents and adults with the disorder will try to pass or live as members of the opposite sex. Many will take hormones or have surgery to more resemble the sex they believe they belong to.

National and local support groups and informational services are available. Contact your healthcare provider for referrals. Most people with gender identity disorder need support from several sources. Families as well as the person with the disorder will need information and support.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File MENT3146.RF2 VRS# 6724 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.