Sex Reassignment Research Papers

Many experts say that gender confirmation surgery can often be vital to the health of individuals suffering from gender dysphoria; a fundamental sense of dissatisfaction with the gender one is assigned with at birth. According to a publication by the National Institutes of Health, gender dysphoria can result in psychological and mental issues such as anxiety, depression, and dissociation.

Only 5% of these females experienced gender dysphoria- which shows that other factors are important in gender development and that hormones weren’t a key factor of determining gender in this study. This criticism of the biological approach shows that it is too reductionist, in that it ignores other factors. As well it is deterministic, as it reduces human behaviour down to simply biology and the act of hormones on gender development, ignoring social and cultural influence.

Discussion of issues related to non-normative sexual and gender identities as related to mental health began in the 19th century (Drescher, 2010). Initially medical and psychiatric providers viewed issues related to gender identity as resulting from delusional thought processes (Drescher, 2010). As a result the concept of surgery as a solution to gender identity differences was viewed as unnecessary and ultimately an incorrect form of treatment (Drescher, 2010). In 1952 the first gender reassignment surgery was performed in Denmark on an American citizen (Drescher, 2010). The publicity in the American media that followed this surgery brought the concept of gender identity to the public eye. During the 1960s research about gender identity started to develop and it was the work of Money, Stoller, Benjamin, and Green that ultimately change professional and public concept of Gender Identity (Drescher, 2010). These four individuals were among the first to conduct clinical and academic research on gender identity and gender roles (Drescher, 2010). As a result of their research beliefs about non-normative gender identity shifted from a problem of the mind to a biological disorder that was fixed and should be treated with

Not all transgendered individuals desire a sex change. However, if a client wanted a sex change, a psychologist must verify if the change will have a positive effect on the patient’s psychological well-being. In an interview I had with a trans-gendered companion, she stated that she would not go for a sex change until the time was right. Her reason was that if she was to have the sex change now, she would endanger her friendships with many people. While this reasoning didn’t come from a psychologist, the resultant sex change must be beneficial to the client or else the operation is useless and will cause more detriment to the individual’s psyche. After medical treatment, hormone therapy is used to get rid of secondary sexual characteristics. In addition to hormone replacement therapy, clients may get surgery for breasts, genitals or other sexual characteristics; clients can also just use hormone therapy alone so that they can alter their bodies to appear more like their self-identified gender.

In class, we have learned and discussed how during the period of adolescence, it is known that this is the period of time where individuals are finding themselves and figuring out where they belong. It is during this time where individuals are the most sensitive and personal problems tend to arise more commonly during this stage. A major issue adolescents struggle during this stage is gender identity and sexuality. Adolescents are trying to figure out who they are attracted to and how they perceive themselves to be. While the norm is to identify oneself as their biological gender, there are those who develop gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is a reoccurring feeling that one’s biological gender is the opposite of one’s sexual identity (Cole,

In the United States Transgender women (individuals who are sex-assigned male at birth but identify as female) experience high rates of severe depression due to pervasive discrimination that they face in society. According to Hoffman (2014), when compared to the general population, Transgender individuals experience much higher rates of depression with estimates as high as 62% (as cited in Clements-Noel, Marx, Guzman, and Katz, 2001). Due to these high rates of depression, Transgender women are at increased risk for overall negative health outcomes, which severely limits them from living happy, healthy, and productive lives. According to studies by Nemoto, Operario, Keatley, Nguyen, and Sugano, (2005) there is a growing understanding of the

Transsexuals rank lowest in overall wellbeing (Gates). SIRS researcher writes, “The American Psychiatric Association uses the term ‘gender dysphonia’ as the medical diagnosis for people who feel their birth-assigned sex and their gender identity do not match.” Civilians need a better understanding that transgender people need better protection. People against transsexuals believe that transgender are “ghastly” and are having an “identity crisis.” Transsexuals need protection in the workplace, public facilities, and in athletics/sports.

The psychology of gender fluidity is a fundamental and contemporary subject. It is one which requires an in-depth analysis as it is an identity which is often misunderstood. Members of genderqueer community continuously experience stigmatization and discrimination due to societal norms. The societal norms are undeniably shaped from living in a gendered culture into which non-binary people do not easily fit in. Gender variance is commonly recognized as an absurdity and labelled as an unnatural behaviour. The experience of those who do not conform to a specific gender or those who do not identify as the sex they were assigned to at birth is one which is typically surrounded by difficulties with inner sense of belonging in addition to the discrimination, harassment, and denial of basic human rights. Subsequently, this strict way of thinking, too, often bring individuals with differing gender expressions into contact with mental health professionals. Therefore, this contact ultimately suggests a correlation between gender non-conformity and mental illness

My research is all about the Gender Reassignment Surgery. Who are the people involved, the procedures, the risks and complications, aftercare for the patients? These are the questions we answered in this synthesis paper. In these modern days, people are aware of third sex. But are people aware of its adverse effects? No. They are not. Have they heard the increasing mortality about this type of surgery? Have they found out how many lives are ruined because of the mistakes of the operation? How many people are deeply depressed because of failed surgeries? As in my introduction says, I want this research to serve as a precaution to everyone. Well, we can say that there are plenty of transsexuals who are now happy with the results of their operation

A long term study of people who chose to undergo sexual reassignment surgery found that their suicide rates were considerably higher than the rest of the population. McHugh's research suggests that today's sexual education gives teenagers a skewed view of reality. Children and adults alike are led to believe that a physical surgery will fix or confirm their physiological status, but this is apparently not the case. McHugh ends his research with this statement, “'Sex change' is biologically impossible. People who undergo sex-reassignment surgery do not change from men to women or vice versa. Rather, they become feminized men or masculinized women” (McHugh). You cannot physically alter you're natural sex thus it would be far better to deal with such situations on the physiological level rather than misleading people into thinking a surgery will fix all of their

For a person who is transgender, gender dysphoria sets in at a young age. The individual is uncomfortable and displeased with their biological sex because it does not match their gender identity. This is compounded with societal norms that use symbolic interactionism to show what the gender expression should look like. The pressure from family, friends, and society can cause discomfort and disappointment with the biological sex they are born, which results in anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. The dysphoria often is a promoter to make the individual change their body and gender expression to be more in line with what is felt to be their gender identity. "A lot of the trauma that gender dysphoric children particularly experience is the lack of validation, the kind of ongoing, 'No, you 're not what you say you are; you are what the

Biologically, sex is determined by chromosomes, (XX = female and XY = male). That is primarily how one is determined male or female. However, Daniela Crocetti (2013), argues that chromosomes are not the only determining factor, that instead some people can be born with an imbalance in their hormone and testosterone system, this imbalance attributes to qualities that are more commonly seen in the opposite sex. This trait is most commonly seen through transexuals. Hormonal therapy is an option for those who experience these certain types of imbalances, it focuses on the “gendered presentation of the body and behavioral components…”. As a result, the therapy tends to make one feel “like how they're supposed to feel”. However, what if one prefers

Although, an increased number of transgender people are seeking psychotherapy, not many therapists are finding themselves in the role of assessor for medically necessary gender realignment procedures (Budge, 2015). There is a guideline for medical treatment for transgender population and that the document has been widely adopted by major medical insurance companies in the United States (e.g., Atena, BlueCrossBrueShield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare) if such procedures are covered in the individual plan. Due to more transgender people seeking psychotherapy, it is important that clinicians are aware of this population’s unique needs and experiences. Moreover, the clinicians need to be aware that they may need to serve as assessor for the client’s eligibility and readiness for medical procedures. There is a risk that the assessment and treatment process to become another place for the transgender clients to experience negative judgement, stigmatization, discrimination, and rejection. The risk would increase when the mental health provider has a limited training and comprehension of this population (see Coolhart, Provancher, Hager, & Wang, 2008). Preoperative psychological health is critical in postoperative adjustment and satisfaction. After all, the primary aim of medical procedures is to enhance mental well-being and self-fulfillment of the individual (De Cuypere & Vercruysse, 2009). Therefore, the mental health providers who involve in the process of gender

Since the world has come more and more tolerant of others and world views change, so do the conservations about how much is too much. Enter the child and todays subject. But before we get into the meat of the conversation, just what is gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is being uncomfortable feeling wrong about their body they are born in, and seek to change that (personify attitudes, dress and possibly stereotypes). There is more to it that that such as clinical proof of distress but that’s the most general of general overviews.

The reason that mental health system believes that Gender Dysphoria should remain in the DSM is due to anyone that displays symptoms of distress or incongruity of their biological sex compared to their gender, should seek psychological help and treatment. When reading a post published on the Huffington Post by author Wynne Parry he quotes a clinical psychologist by the name of Robin Rosenberg, “Transgender people and their allies have pointed out that distress in gender dysphoria is not an inherent part of being transgender. This sets it apart from many other disorders in the DSM, because if someone is depressed, for example, he or she is, almost by definition, distressed as part of depression. In contrast, the distress that accompanies gender dysphoria arises as a result of a culture that stigmatizes people who do not conform to gender norms.” This quote is very important because it brings to light that gender nonconforming or transgender individuals experience distress due to culture and the lack of