Susan's Place Transgender Resources

First and most importantly, do you need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria in order to transition? I've heard some say you do, but others say you don't. And that scares me because I feel like if it is a requirement, then I wouldn't be diagnosed with it, and I really really want to transition. My body isn't right, and I think I have dysphoria and would desperately do anything to transition.

Secondly, is there any way for people without genders to transition medically? Is it even possible? I'm not sure.

I recently discovered my what I identify as, and I already started planning. I know things can change, but I think the next step for me is to legally transition.

Honey why does the idea scare you? Considering your desire, why do you not feel like talking to someone trained in these issues wouldn't give you the go-ahead? Why do you not feel you would qualify?

Hello Asher,

You ask some very good questions!

First of all, there is no requirement for anyone to be diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria. Some people are content with the way their bodies align with their gender, so transition is not important to them.

However, medical transition, i.e. hormone therapy or surgery will require that diagnosis. The reason is that medical transition is considered a treatment for Gender Dysphoria. So if you don't have Gender Dysphoria, there would be no treatment considered "medically necessary".

So the question is whether or not you have Gender Dysphoria. A therapist can help you figure that out. Since you identify as "agender" what would be the purpose of the surgery? Usually, the purpose of surgery is to make the body align with your gender. So someone who is transgender (meaning their body does not match their gender), surgery would make the body more feminine or masculine to fit their gender. As agender, I am assuming you intend to merely remove any masculine or feminine characteristics (body parts), so an orchiectomy and penectomy would make sense.

However, a surgeon is not going to perform such a permanent procedure without a valid reason. This is why the diagnosis is important.

I don't want to get too personal here on a public forum where everyone can read this, but if you are comfortable saying so, I would be interested in why you think you cannot get a diagnosis. Is it the financial cost of a therapist? Is it that you are too shy to discuss such a personal matter with a therapist? Or do you think you might not fit the "criteria" to qualify?

I too am asexual, so I can relate to some of what you are saying. Seeing a therapist goes far beyond just getting a diagnosis. They can help with other issues too. I am a retired hypnotherapist, so perhaps I can help answer some of your questions about therapy and what it entails. It is nothing to fear. Let me know if I can help.

Quote from: LoriDee on July 11, 2024, 12:13:29 AMSeeing a therapist goes far beyond just getting a diagnosis. They can help with other issues too.

Asher,

Lori is correct. A therapist will be able to help you in many different ways. I strongly urge you to find a therapist.

Ellen

Hi, Asher.

Transition is what you want it to be, so there is a lot you can do without a diagnosis.  You can change your presentation by wearing different clothes, a different hairstyle.  You can (informally) change your name, just by asking people to use your preferred name.  In most places, it is legal to call yourself anything you want as long as you are not doing so to commit fraud.

Every jurisdiction has its own requirements for a legal name change, but most will not require a diagnosis of dysphoria.  Check into the requirements where you live.

The requirements for a legal gender change may be different from the requirements for a name change.  Unfortunately, this is an area where uninformed politicians like to meddle and the rules are changing in many places.  Again, you will need to research the requirements, both where you currently live and where your birth certificate was issued, if that is different.

Medical transition (hormones or surgery) will normally require a diagnosis of dysphoria.  However, given your description of your situation, that should be easy.  Find a therapist qualified in gender therapy and talk to them.  Chances are you will have no trouble getting diagnosed.

I wholeheartedly agree with Lori's advice.

I also think a therapist is a great first step in this process of discovering ourselves.

I live in CA, and here, like many other places, is an informed consent state. That means I didn't have to have anything official to begin my transition with HRT. Once I wanted to go beyond that the surgeons required letters to be written from therapists, but that wasn't until several years into this.

Good luck!

Hi Asher

You mention in your post regarding, "Transitioning Questions":

Quote from: Asher0971 on July 10, 2024, 11:49:05 PMFirst and most importantly, do you need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria in order to transition?

Absolutely not.  I agree with Lori where she says,

Quote from: LoriDee on July 11, 2024, 12:13:29 AMFirst of all, there is no requirement for anyone to be diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria.

and where Kathy Lauren says,

Quote from: KathyLauren on July 11, 2024, 12:20:43 PMTransition is what you want it to be, so there is a lot you can do without a diagnosis.  You can change your presentation by wearing different clothes, a different hairstyle.  You can (informally) change your name, just by asking people to use your preferred name.  In most places, it is legal to call yourself anything you want as long as you are not doing so to commit fraud.

Or like me, change your clothes, change your hairstyle, walk into the appropriate 'department' and legally change your name.  This may come with restrictions depending on where you live.  At the point in time, when I changed my life around, I did not have any diagnosis.

Quote from: Asher0971 on July 10, 2024, 11:49:05 PMI've heard some say you do, but others say you don't. And that scares me because I feel like if it is a requirement, then I wouldn't be diagnosed with it, and I really really want to transition. My body isn't right, and I think I have dysphoria and would desperately do anything to transition.

I would trust what they say, however I would verify what they say myself, so you would know what is true and what is not.

You will never know, what is possible unless you seek out a 'therapist', that means visiting a psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor that specialises in 'Gender Issues' or 'Gender Therapy'.

So go to your 'doctor' to get a referral to see a 'therapist'.  Seeing a 'therapist may seem scary and daunting, and each individual experience with them is a little different, so it's important to remember that at no stage are you locked in with that therapist. If you're not happy with your sessions or they do not feel right, then seek support elsewhere.

I had to see a psychiatrists to get my surgery letters so that I could have my surgery.  I was very wary of them, because I knew at the time they could gate keep.  That did not happen to me though.  You say you are, "agender" and "I really really want to transition. My body isn't right, and I think I have dysphoria and would desperately do anything to transition."

Then you need to see a 'therapist' to determine what you really want.  Whatever diagnoses they are using currently in this case it's, 'Gender Dysphoria'.  In my time it was 'transsexual'.  Then you will need that diagnoses and the letters that come with it to help you 'transition', to the extent that your body is in alignment with you.

Quote from: Asher0971 on July 10, 2024, 11:49:05 PMSecondly, is there any way for people without genders to transition medically? Is it even possible? I'm not sure.

I know of no cases where one is without gender and being able to transition.  In theory it is possible to 'medically transition', via HRT or surgery or both to align ones body to ones image.  However, to do this you still need at least 'informed consent' from a doctor or 'therapist' versed in 'Gender Issues' to get HRT and you need at least one surgery letter from them to get surgery.

Quote from: Asher0971 on July 10, 2024, 11:49:05 PMI recently discovered my what I identify as, and I already started planning. I know things can change, but I think the next step for me is to legally transition.

Even Nadine Spirit is saying basically the same thing that I and others are saying to you and that is,

Quote from: Nadine Spirit on July 11, 2024, 09:33:30 PMI also think a therapist is a great first step in this process of discovering ourselves.

I live in CA, and here, like many other places, is an informed consent state. That means I didn't have to have anything official to begin my transition with HRT. Once I wanted to go beyond that the surgeons required letters to be written from therapists, but that wasn't until several years into this.

Good luck!

If you don't mind me asking, you do not have to answer, but what do you mean by "legally transition?"  Remember whatever you decide to do, it is up to you and only you.

Take care and wishing you all the best for the future.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter
@Asher0971
@LoriDee
@Nadine Spirit
@KathyLauren
@EllenW
@Sephirah

I started living as a man before I could get a gender dysphoria diagnosis and met another trans man who did the same (that was because he didn't know he could medically transition in the town we live in, so he only did social transition).

I have to say that the requirements would depend on where you live and who will help with your treatment. Here, in Brazil, I got diagnosed with gender dysphoria mostly as a formality (yes, I had to go to a mental health professional, but it was mostly to make sure I was capable of making the decision to start HRT than figuring out if I was "really trans").

Then, I had to do some tests to check if my health was okay and my hormonal levels to figure out how much I had to take. Once that was over, I was ready to start with my first prescription.

I don't know if the place you live has stricter criteria, but it was really chill where I live. Even nonbinary people could medically transition without an issue.

Quote from: Asher0971 on July 10, 2024, 11:49:05 PMFirst and most importantly, do you need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria in order to transition? I've heard some say you do, but others say you don't. And that scares me because I feel like if it is a requirement,

It would depend upon if surgery is your goal

Quote from: Asher0971 on July 10, 2024, 11:49:05 PMSecondly, is there any way for people without genders to transition medically? Is it even possible? I'm not sure.

In the UK when Gender reassignment no longer came under the mental health act, you could for hormones self certify and sign a document to say you understand the risks of taking the medication, Surgery is a life changing different matter and no surgeon would in the UK perform surgery without two letters confirming your life long commitment. I have written this from the understanding of those i know who reside in the UK and have most recently transitioned.

Quote from: kat2 on April 20, 2025, 08:54:55 AMIt would depend upon if surgery is your goal

I am not even considering surgery, but I consider myself in transition.  I am not sure that this english definition can be construed as accurate unless I'm just confused. But I'm still getting my feet wet here. 🤗

WPATH recommends a diagnosis and one letter of referral.  Not all health systems follow the WPATH guidelines.

Quote from: Annaliese on April 20, 2025, 09:20:54 AMI am not even considering surgery, but I consider myself in transition.  I am not sure that this english definition can be construed as accurate unless I'm just confused. But I'm still getting my feet wet here. 🤗

Transitioning means different things for each person. If you consider that gender itself is a spectrum, then your transition may require more or less to achieve your goal. For some people, cross-dressing or under-dressing is enough. Some need hormone treatments. Some need surgery. But because it is a wide spectrum, there are many points in between each of these. Social transitioning, (name change, ID documents, clothing choices, hairstyles, etc.), for example.

There are even some who do not follow a linear path to suit their needs. They may start hormones first, then social transition. Some may change their name and do nothing else.

It all depends on what you are comfortable with, what you feel you need or want. For me, even that has changed over time.

To me, a social transition is being perceived as a woman via appearance, walk, speech, and mannerisms.
It can be done without surgery or hormones.

 In some places, notably Provincetown, MA, nobody cares how you present, so there is no danger posed by being different.

Quote from: KathyLauren on July 11, 2024, 12:20:43 PMTransition is what you want it to be, so there is a lot you can do without a diagnosis.  You can change your presentation by wearing different clothes, a different hairstyle.  You can (informally) change your name, just by asking people to use your preferred name.  In most places, it is legal to call yourself anything you want as long as you are not doing so to commit fraud.

I'm so glad you called this out to our friends.  Be who you want to be.  There are consequences to every decision you make, we make.  Life is determined by the opportunities you take and those you don't.