A transgender person suffers from a gender identity disorder: they feel a disconnect between their biological sex and the gender to which they believe they belong. This transidity is similar to transsexualism, with the difference that the transgender does not change sex. Yet the suffering remains. How to consider a change of sex?

The notion of transidity relates to several distinct ideas: biological sex, psychic identity and sexuality.

Sexual attributes provided by nature from birth

At birth, the individual has female or male sexual attributes. The baby who has visible and invisible male genitalia has a vocation, in the eyes of society, to become a man. Conversely, the newborn who exhibits female external and internal attributes should become a woman. If most individuals follow this process, the transgender person for his part deviates from it: his biological reality does not correspond to his psychic feeling.

Sexual identity: the notion of gender detached from biological sex

Despite having a penis or a vagina, the individual may feel that they belong to the other gender. It is a deeply held and unchanging feeling. In today’s society, transgender people experience daily suffering: on the one hand because their physical appearance inspires incomprehension or even disgust, on the other hand because the gaze of others weighs heavily. Indeed, it is difficult for a non-transgender person to imagine what a transgender person feels and transidity appears to be off the road, an anomaly that is not really accepted in the current state of affairs.

What about transgender sexuality?

Contrary to popular belief, a transgender person is not necessarily homosexual. The transgender’s sexual attraction is not in question: the problem concerns his deep identity, which includes – only in part – his sexuality. Likewise, lack of virility or a large part of femininity should not be confused with transidity: men and women can express character traits “normally” attributed to the other gender without feeling out of step with their biological reality. . 

Gender identity disorder generally manifests itself in childhood, and is exacerbated during adolescence, sometimes posing a real problem during the transition to adulthood.

Transgender children

Identity is revealed from early childhood. In principle, little girls are drawn to “girlish” games – playing with dolls, drawing – like to dress in clothes intended for girls and have a female name. Conversely, the little boy is more attracted to small cars, plays fights and becomes friends with other boys. Be careful, the child who does not reproduce this pattern is not transgender. But the first signs that announce a gender identity disorder are often the following: the child adopts a first name of the other gender in his daily games, wears clothes of the opposite sex and prefers the games and toys initially intended for the child. other sexual gender. He is already convinced that he belongs to the opposite gender to his biological sex.

Puberty, a difficult time for the transgender person

Adolescence is arguably the most difficult time for transgender people, as it is when their sexual attributes are developing. Except that physical traits appear unlike the sex to which he believes he belongs. His physical appearance distances him more and more from the person he thinks he is, and the teenager finds himself very badly in his skin. At this stage of his life, the transgender can already suffer from his disorder and express his suffering – anorexia, loneliness, depression …

Adult, the transgender person asks the question of changing sex

When the gap between the biological sex and the psychic conception of his identity is too great, the transgender suffers deeply. In this context, and to correct this state of affairs, it may be useful to think about changing your gender. 

While some transgender people are free to talk about their disorder, most find it difficult to talk about it. Rare, transidity still suffers from a bad image and struggles to be recognized. Under these conditions, the transgender person who feels bad about himself is not inclined to communicate on this subject with those around him, nor with those close to him.

Going to a psychiatrist can be lifesaving for the transgender person. This mental health professional is best able to consider gender identity disorder on the one hand, to suggest solutions to change the sex, if necessary. Hormonal therapies, surgery and sex reassignment: there are solutions for the well-being of transgender people.