I have seen some people push the notion that what determines whether or not a transition will work out is having the right kind of "gender dysphoria" (whatever that is) but that has never been supported by evidence.
It is not the case that having a lot of severe dysphoria (regardless of type) will automatically make the transition into a successful one. If anything severe dysphoria actually make things harder since the medical transition might not be able to properly address that and people sometimes remain distressed about masculine traits due to limited transition technology or (perhaps even worse) dysphoria over what isn't masculine traits to begin with.
I have read a lot of stories from people and it's very clear to me that the people with the most dysphoria are generally having a harder time with their transition than the people who transitioned having minimal dysphoria.
Severe gender dysphoria can also push people to transition when doing so is going to result in a lot of social problems such as due to living under a transphobic government or having a very unfavorable social situation for it. It can push people to transition even when they have no real chance of ever passing because the dysphoria is so severe they are desperate for any alleviation even at a very high cost.
Severe dysphoria can also cause people to undergo medically questionable surgeries such as going to a very bad doctor for SRS out of desperation.
Often believers in truscum ideology (and similar) will discard any failed transitions as "people who didn't have proper dysphoria" and if the transition worked out they will claim "they had dysphoria without realizing it". I shouldn't have to explain why that type of thinking is highly problematic and unacceptable.
I have little patience for people denying reality for the sake of some dumb ideology/religion.
Relevant studies
An old study from Sweden found that poor support from the family was a bigger predictor of transition regret than "belonging to the non-core group of transsexuals".
https://sci-hub.mksa.top/10.1007/s10508-014-0300-8
A finnish study found transsexuals who ignored bureaucratic guidelines did just fine afterwards and got treatment much earlier.
Patients were deemed as non-compliant if they had done at least 3 of the following
We also have a more recent study that found that 92% of detransitioners where born female and that 2% didn't have any type of gender dysphoria.
body dysphoria & social dysphoria: 84%
only body dysphoria: 8%
only social dysphoria: 6%
This study did however have some methodological problems in how they collected the data, etc (seems like the study author was a TERF) but it still provides some interesting data.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2021.1919479
It is not the case that having a lot of severe dysphoria (regardless of type) will automatically make the transition into a successful one. If anything severe dysphoria actually make things harder since the medical transition might not be able to properly address that and people sometimes remain distressed about masculine traits due to limited transition technology or (perhaps even worse) dysphoria over what isn't masculine traits to begin with.
I have read a lot of stories from people and it's very clear to me that the people with the most dysphoria are generally having a harder time with their transition than the people who transitioned having minimal dysphoria.
Severe gender dysphoria can also push people to transition when doing so is going to result in a lot of social problems such as due to living under a transphobic government or having a very unfavorable social situation for it. It can push people to transition even when they have no real chance of ever passing because the dysphoria is so severe they are desperate for any alleviation even at a very high cost.
Severe dysphoria can also cause people to undergo medically questionable surgeries such as going to a very bad doctor for SRS out of desperation.
Often believers in truscum ideology (and similar) will discard any failed transitions as "people who didn't have proper dysphoria" and if the transition worked out they will claim "they had dysphoria without realizing it". I shouldn't have to explain why that type of thinking is highly problematic and unacceptable.
I have little patience for people denying reality for the sake of some dumb ideology/religion.
Relevant studies
An old study from Sweden found that poor support from the family was a bigger predictor of transition regret than "belonging to the non-core group of transsexuals".
https://sci-hub.mksa.top/10.1007/s10508-014-0300-8
A finnish study found transsexuals who ignored bureaucratic guidelines did just fine afterwards and got treatment much earlier.
Patients were deemed as non-compliant if they had done at least 3 of the following
- Delivered a deliberately falsified story at assessment.
- Began hormone therapy without any recommendation by the psychiatrist.
- Did not keep contact with the psychiatrist during the everyday life experience.
- Had genital surgery without any recommendation from the psychiatrist.
- Had first name changed without any recommendation by the psychiatrist.
We also have a more recent study that found that 92% of detransitioners where born female and that 2% didn't have any type of gender dysphoria.
body dysphoria & social dysphoria: 84%
only body dysphoria: 8%
only social dysphoria: 6%
This study did however have some methodological problems in how they collected the data, etc (seems like the study author was a TERF) but it still provides some interesting data.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2021.1919479