Gender Dysphoria is the experience of distress in people because of the difference between the gender with which they personally identify and the gender with which they were born. This incongruence between the gender identities (gender perceived and gender by birth) causes uncomfortable feelings (dysphoria) among those people having such conflicts.

In easy words, gender dysphoria is the discontent of an individual with the assigned (at birth) gender.

Gender dysphoria usually occurs in FTM (female to male) and MTF (male to female) transgender people. Such people, sometimes feel very upset, or even depressed about the body they were born with. It severely disturbs them because they feel differently than their bodily self. And it is really painful for such persons because they have to struggle with their opposing mind and body each and every second of the day.

So, it can be understood as that gender dysphoria takes place because of the conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify. And this unpleasant situation (dysphoria) often makes a person feel very uncomfortable with the gender he/she/they were assigned. This also leads, sometimes, to being uncomfortable with his/her/their own body - especially during the puberty when bodily changes (including sex organs) start to become visible.

Although the diagnosis of gender dysphoria is usually associated with mental health care system, the treatment for the adults often include varied measures including surgical ones.

Also, gender dysphoria is not the same as Gender Nonconformity. The difference is, gender nonconformity refers to the behaviors not matching the gender norms or stereotypes of the gender assigned at birth.

Gender dysphoria is also known as Gender Identity Disorder. This is the opposite of Gender Euphoria - where a particular (trans)person experiences comfortable feelings for being able to express his/her/their gender identity in the adored way.

Further Readings

Benestad, Esben Esther Pirelli (2010): From gender dysphoria to gender euphoria: An assisted journey. Sexologies, vol 19.  DO: 10.1016/j.sexol.2010.09.003.

Deloto, Barbara & Newgen, Thomas (2014):  Feminizing Men - A Guide for Males to Achieve Maximum Feminization. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN-10: 1502959674, ISBN-13: 978-1502959676.

Erickson-Schroth, Laura (2014):  Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. Oxford University Press. ISBN-10: 9780199325351, ISBN-13: 978-0199325351.

Gender Dysphoria" (PDF). American Psychiatric Publishing. Retrieved on July20, 2020.

Iantaffi, Alex (2017) : How to Understand Your Gender. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN-10: 9781785927461, ISBN-13: 978-1785927461.

Iantaffi & Barker (2020): Life Isn't Binary. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN-10: 1785924796, ISBN-13: 978-1785924798.

Kreukels, Baudewijntje P.C., Steensma, Thomas D. & de Vries, Annelou L.C. (2014): Gender Dysphoria and Disorders of Sex Development: Progress in Care and Knowledge. Springer. ISBN-10: 146147440X, ISBN-13: 978-1461474401.

Labelle, Sophie (2015): Assigned Male: Gender Euphoria. Éditions SGL.

Lundin, Martha (2020): Dealing with Gender Dysphoria. Referencepoint Press. ISBN: 1682827917 (ISBN13: 9781682827918).

Hoffman-Fox, Dara (2017): You and Your Gender Identity: A Guide to Discovery. Skyhorse. ISBN-10: 1510723056, ISBN-13: 978-1510723054.

Ranna Parekh. "What Is Gender Dysphoria?". American Psychiatric Publishing. Retrieved on July 18, 2020.

Violet, Mia (2018): Yes, You Are Trans Enough. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN-10: 1785923153, ISBN-13: 978-1785923159.

Yarhouse, Mark A. (2013): Understanding Sexual Identity: A Resource for Youth Ministry. Zondervan. ISBN-10: 0310516188, ISBN-13: 978-0310516187.

Yarhouse, Mark A. (2015): Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture. IVP Academic. ISBN-10: 0830828591, ISBN-13: 978-0830828593.