Nonbinary & Gender Dysphoria: Do You Need It for Hormones & Surgery? | Dr.Z

Dr. Z discusses the difference between gender incongruence versus gender dysphoria, specifically in non-binary adults, and whether incongruence is enough to pursue affirming care (surgical or hormones).

Here's the confusion: You're non-binary. Maybe your body feels fine, or maybe some parts bother you and others don't. Maybe you want some physical changes but not others. But every day you're dealing with people who gender you wrong (she/he when you use they/them), forms with only male/female boxes, a world insisting you're one or the other.

Now you're asking: Do I have dysphoria? Do I have ENOUGH dysphoria? Am I valid enough to pursue affirming care? Do I need to experience distress to pursue hormones? The medical system seems to want you to prove you're suffering.

Here's what matters: Gender incongruence (mismatch between gender identity and assigned sex) and gender dysphoria (distress from that incongruence) are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. You can have incongruence WITHOUT severe distress.

What you actually need: gender incongruence + clarity about what would create better alignment. NOT severity of suffering.

Watch to learn the 5 crucial questions to ask yourself.