Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Gender transition
open-in-new
<p>Gender transition is the process of <a href="/facts/Gender_affirmation/90JkgPsN">affirming</a> and <a href="/facts/Gender_expression/YCho4g1I">expressing</a> one's <a href="/facts/Gender_identity/GhaeHYtb">internal sense of gender</a>, rather than the sex <a href="/facts/Sex_assignment/yt62v82q">assigned to them at birth</a>. It is a recommended course of treatment for individuals experiencing <a href="/facts/Gender_dysphoria/aeAcKjyl">gender dysphoria</a>, providing improved mental health outcomes in the majority of people. </p><p>A social transition may include coming out as transgender, using a new name and pronouns, and changing one's public gender expression. This is usually the first step in a gender transition. People socially transition at almost any age, as a social transition does not involve medical procedures. It can, however, be a prerequisite to accessing transgender healthcare in many places. </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Transgender_youth/dJelnrr9">transgender youth</a>, <a href="/facts/Puberty_blockers/Gcz8PW1g">puberty blockers</a> are sometimes offered at the onset of puberty to allow the exploration of their gender identity without the distress of <a href="/facts/Puberty/vjfPAKf4">irreversible pubertal changes</a>. Upon reaching the age of consent, they become eligible to pursue a medical transition if it is still desired. </p><p>A medical transition may include <a href="/facts/Cross-sex_hormone_therapy/M1cYUXXs">hormone replacement therapy</a> (HRT), <a href="/facts/Transgender_voice_therapy/UxcEYdaD">transgender voice therapy</a>, and <a href="/facts/Gender_affirming_surgery/DJjBjrpH">gender affirming surgeries</a>. The ability to start a medical transition is typically offered after a diagnosis of <a href="/facts/Gender_dysphoria/aeAcKjyl">gender dysphoria</a>, a form of <a href="/facts/Medicalization/mJ3w0EWD">medicalization</a>. In recent years, there has been a push for an <a href="/facts/Informed_consent/V1vL4QSj">informed consent model</a> of transgender healthcare which allows adults to access HRT without a formal diagnosis. </p><p>Transitioning is a process that can take anywhere from several months to several years. </p>