A Rapid Increase in Gender Dysphoria Diagnoses
A review study finds the average age of those with a gender dysphoria diagnosis has fast declined. This blog examines the data and charts showing the rapid rise in gender dysphoria diagnoses.
Benjamin Ryan
🔬Health & science reporter | Contributor to: @NYTimes @NBCNews @Guardian @TRF | Other bylines: @WashingtonPost @TheAtlantic | Cancer Survivor | Columbia grad
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A review study finds the average age of those with a gender dysphoria (GD) diagnosis has fast declined. Looking at medical chart data on 42 million 4- to 65-year-olds, researchers found 66,078 people with GD. Average age was 31 in 2017 and 26 in 2021. 1/https://t.co/smn7tJxe6S pic.twitter.com/6xSkj6Te3d
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023 -
These charts show how quickly gender dysphoria diagnoses have risen and shifted younger from 2017-2021:
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023
"(A) Estimated prevalence, mean age and median age of GD by survey year. (B) Est prevalence, mean age and median age of gender dysphoria by sex assigned at birth." 2/ pic.twitter.com/5bqND5zcM5 -
The study found that 0.16% of the 42 million patients in the medical-records database had a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Between 2017 and 2021, the proportion who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) increased, skewed by adolescents & young adults. 3/https://t.co/smn7tJxLWq pic.twitter.com/oi6wSsh7jK
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023 -
The study authors theorized that the sharply lower prevalence of gender dysphoria (GD) in those assigned female at birth (AFAB) who were older than 18 might be a reflection of older ones not seeking medical attention for GD.
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023
4/https://t.co/smn7tJxe6S pic.twitter.com/aAvHefOGr2 -
The authors theorized that social media & media might have encouraged those assigned female at birth (AFAB) to "embrace diversity and independence," whereas those assigned male at birth (AMAB) remain "less motivated to express their gender diversity." 5/ https://t.co/smn7tJxe6S pic.twitter.com/bSeJckOdHN
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023 -
"Further investigation is warranted to determine the persistence of [gender dysphoria] diagnosis. Notably, changing identity over time should not be pathologised considering the gender-fluid nature in certain populations. That is to say, GD is not a permanent diagnosis." 6/ pic.twitter.com/mcVbah0nWh
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023 -
The authors theorize that the increasing number of child gender clinics as well as a more accepting overall social context, plus certain identity-focused video games, may have influenced the rising rates of gender dysphoria diagnosis in children. 7/https://t.co/smn7tJxe6S pic.twitter.com/v7KhAYskcr
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) June 26, 2023