Book an appointmentHomeBlogAbout usDr. TeresitaPressEducation
ThyroidWeight managementMenopausePCOSGender dysphoriaHormonal health
Español

Services

Endocrinology
In-person appointmentVirtual appointment
DiabetesThyroidWeight managementMenopauseOsteoporosisPCOSGender-affirming careHormonal disordersPituitary careGrowth and development

Social media

Educational article

Gender Dysphoria: What We Know—and Don’t Know—About Genetics, Upbringing, and Life Experiences

Endomédicos

Endomédicos medical profile

Published 6 min read

Educational content. It does not replace an individual medical assessment and should not be used for self-medication.

Leer este artículo en español
An adult reads information about gender identity on a tablet in a quiet space at home.
An adult reviews information about gender identity and dysphoria—topics that cannot be explained or diagnosed based on appearance.

Is gender dysphoria inherited?

It has not been established that gender dysphoria is inherited in a simple way, as if a gene determined a person’s identity. Research can examine possible biological influences, but its findings have not identified a single genetic cause and cannot predict someone’s identity from their family history.

Can a genetic test tell who is transgender?

No. Research into possible biological factors is not a diagnostic test or a way to predict gender identity. There is no basis for using genetic testing to determine whether someone is transgender, explain their identity, or decide how they should live it. An association observed in a group does not, by itself, demonstrate a cause that applies to each individual.

Does upbringing determine gender identity?

The evidence does not allow us to attribute a person’s identity to how they were raised or to blame mothers, fathers, or other caregivers. Relationships and environment can influence how safe someone feels expressing themselves and the support they receive; this does not show that they caused the person’s identity.

What if someone had a difficult experience?

A painful experience can affect emotional well-being and a sense of safety, and deserves attention in its own right. However, one should not conclude that trauma or another specific experience caused a person’s gender identity or dysphoria. Discussing personal history can be helpful if the person wants to, but it should not be an obligatory search for a cause.

What the evidence allows us to conclude

Gender identity and gender dysphoria are complex topics studied across different fields. The available evidence does not establish a single cause or allow us to predict a person’s identity. It is important to distinguish a hypothesis, an association observed in a group, and an explanation demonstrated for an individual; they are not equivalent.

Gender identity, dysphoria, and well-being

Being transgender is not an illness that needs to be corrected. Some people experience dysphoria or distress related to aspects of their body, how others treat them, or difficulty being recognized; others do not experience that distress in the same way. Rejection, lack of support, and stress can affect emotional health, but they do not define or invalidate a person’s identity.

How to evaluate conflicting explanations

It can help to ask whether a claim distinguishes evidence from speculation, turns an association into a cause, or blames the person or their family. A respectful health professional can help sort through questions and discuss current needs. A cause does not have to be proven for someone’s identity to be heard and respected.

When to seek support

An adult may seek support if they want to talk about their identity, if distress affects their daily life, or if they need tools to manage stress, relationships, or access to care. The goal is to understand what they need, not to find an explanation that invalidates them. In Bogotá, endocrinology care can address individual endocrine concerns; seeing an endocrinologist is not necessary to validate an identity and does not replace other support the person may wish to receive.

When to seek medical care

If symptoms persist, test results are abnormal, or you have questions about medication, arrange an individual assessment. Do not change treatment or doses without medical guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Is gender dysphoria passed from parents to children?

The evidence does not establish a simple pattern of inheritance or allow someone’s identity to be predicted from their family history. There is no genetic test that determines whether someone is transgender or has gender dysphoria.

Does upbringing or a traumatic experience cause gender identity?

Gender identity should not be attributed to upbringing or to a specific experience. Difficult experiences can affect well-being and deserve support, but that does not show that they caused the person’s identity.

Does a cause have to be found for an identity to be valid?

No. A person’s identity does not depend on identifying a cause. Care can focus on their well-being, questions, and the support they want to receive.

Does this topic resonate with you?

Every case is different. Book a consultation to review your history, test results and goals with a personalized plan.

Book an appointmentMeet Dr. Teresita CortésDiscover EndomédicosExplore related care
Explore endocrinology care for Gender dysphoria and hormonal health

More articles about Gender dysphoria and hormonal health