Sorry, I guess this question has been put on already but I didn't find it, so if it's been discussed before, please refer me to that topic! I've read in one random newspaper that the gender disphoria is due to a huge amount of stress that the mother is exposed to between the weeks 6 - 8 of pregnancy. Is this true / are there any researches on this area?

It could be part of a reason for a few people. But it's a mistake to think there is a single cause.

I think it's also a mistake to fret about causes.

What matters is this is who you are now and what are you intending to do about it?

Hehe yeah I know it's a very vague fact and that this finding practically doesn't help anybody and it's impossible to prevent ... but if it's true, it could be sometimes useful ... like when you have to come out to parents who trust (only) scientific findings and you have a perfect answer for them (especially because I know what happened in those 6-8 weeks). It would be much easier to say "look, it's the fault of this and this" and not let them think it's something else I beat into my head

GID is like cancer.

Cancer is not a single disease. It is many, each with a different cause, but sharing a common symptom.

If I were a betting girl I would put money on the fact that GID is the same. For some of us the cause will be minute gene faults, for others it could be pre-natal hormonal influences and for others it might be things which have happened to us whilst we were growing up.

Or indeed it could be a combo of all three.

Either way why is a profoundly un-helpful question unless you are a research scientist looking for a meal ticket.

The real question is what do you want to do with it!

My understanding is that GID is something we are born with.  How it happens, I don't know.  From what I understand, the brain and the genitals of the fetus develop at different times.  Therefore it is not inconceivable that the brain gender and the genital gender could sometimes be different.

I view our condition as just part of the natural diversity of life.  We aren't made with cookie-cutters or in a factory with close tolerances - we are living creatures.  All of nature has huge variety.  Why should humans be any different?

- Kate

Perlita that particular brain region was found to be sexually dismorphic between males and females and is located in the limbic system and it was also found to be "Female" in transwomen and "Male" in homosexual men.

However as I'm taught all the time do not draw too much from your conclusions the actual functionality of the BSTc region is not well understood and it might not be the exclusive reason for gender dysphoria but merely a sign of many such developmental anomalies.

Quote from: pebbles on November 01, 2010, 12:30:21 PM
Perlita that particular brain region was found to be sexually dismorphic between males and females and is located in the limbic system and it was also found to be "Female" in transwomen and "Male" in homosexual men.

However as I'm taught all the time do not draw too much from your conclusions the actual functionality of the BSTc region is not well understood and it might not be the exclusive reason for gender dysphoria but merely a sign of many such developmental anomalies.

Wow. That's a relief!!