Gender Dysphoria and Gender Change in Chromosomal Females with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Authors: Dessens, Arianne¹; Slijper, Froukje²; Drop, Stenvert²

Source: Archives of Sexual Behavior, Volume 34, Number 4, August 2005 , pp. 389-397(9)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This article reviews the literature on studies and case reports on gender identity and gender identity problems, gender dysphoria, and gender change in chromosomal females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, raised male or female. The large majority (94.8%) of the patients raised female (N= 250) later developed a gender identity as girls and women and did not feel gender dysphoric. But 13 (5.2%) patients had serious problems with their gender identity. This percentage is higher than the prevalence of female-to-male transsexuals in the general population of chromosomal females. Among patients raised male, serious gender identity problems were reported in 4 (12.1%) out of 33 patients. From these observations, we conclude that the assignment to the female gender as a general policy for 46,XX patients with CAH appears justified, even in severely masculinized 46,XX newborns with CAH (Prader stage IV or V).

Keywords: congenital adrenal hyperplasia; gender identity; gender dysphoria

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10508-005-4338-5

Affiliations: 1: Pediatrics Department, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Room SP-3435, POB 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Email: a.b.dessens@erasmusmc.nl 2: Pediatrics Department, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Room SP-3435, POB 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands,

Publication date: 2005-08-01