Gender reassignment surgeries: When you’re born with the wrong body
In August, the UAE implemented changes in law governing healthcare and one of the new laws permitted sexchange operations for those who have gender dysphoria. This is the right step forward, explained UAE medical and healthcare experts.
Under the new law, if the sex of the individual is unclear, and if medical examinations indicate the person’s physical features do not match with his or her characteristics, then he or she could be qualified to undergo a sex-change operation.
Dr Monika Chawla, reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at Fakih IVF Fertility Centre spoke to Khaleej Times about gender dysphoria, and why it is crucial to raise awareness and overcome stigmatism.
She said that neglecting the issue due to it being considered a taboo, could lead to depression and even suicide for those suffering with gender identity issues.
“Gender dysphoria is a condition that happens when you are born feeling that your emotional, psychical and psychological identity is not the same as your biological identity.”
Those suffering from gender dysphoria often feel dissatisfaction, anxiety and restlessness, as well as discomfort within his or her body. The term is also referred to as gender identity disorder (GID), transgenderism or gender incongruence.
“You feel completely opposite to your identity, you feel discomfort within your own skin and this greatly affects all your functions in life, from your emotions to your thoughts, to your work and personal life.
“The first signs can appear at a young age. For example, a little boy may refuse to were a typical boy’s clothing.”
She noted that although this behaviour is normal and will pass in time, in many cases it continues right into adulthood and the individual begins to face identity conflicts.
“This can be a psycho-sexual problem, where it is just an emotional issue. But in many cases it is more than a psychological problem.”
Dr Pankaj Shrivastav, medical director of Conceive, gynaecology and fertility centre, said: “Gender dysphoria is a very unhappy situation in which the person thinks he or she is in the wrong body. The mind could be male or female, but the body that the mind is in could be just the opposite.”
“Unfortunately, people like this try to enact what their inner mind is telling them. For instance, a boy with gender dysphoria would behave in a very effeminate manner or dress in a manner inappropriate for his physical body.”
Dr Shrivastav pointed out that those suffering from gender dysphoria, also often suffer from the society.
“This is an inherent condition. It is not something that the person has tried to become. For no fault of theirs, they suffer ridicule, are the butt of many jokes and their behaviour is mimicked and all this leads to them withdrawing from their families and society.”
Naser Al Riyami, Emirati psychologist and hypnotherapist, highlighted that it is not uncommon for patients dealing with gender identity to seek help.
“Some patients often tell me: “I feel like a boy but I am a girl,” or vice-versa, but some patients have a confusion between gender identity disorder and sexual identity disorder, which are two separate things.”
“Gender identity disorder is when the person is completely unhappy with his or her gender, whereas sexual identity disorder is when one is unhappy with the sexual preference.”
Nevertheless, he noted that patients often suffer from deeper issues. “A lot of times there is history of abuse, neglect and maltreatment and these need to be dealt with.
“The individual often has a poor self-image. Patients often believe that all these negative feelings will magically disappear after surgery, but there are deeper issues. You don’t magically grow to love yourself once your appearance changes.”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission conducted a survey of 10,000 people in 2012, which revealed that one per cent of the population in the survey was gender variant.
Gender dysphoria is a very unhappy situation in which the person thinks he or she is in the wrong body. The mind could be male or female, but the body that the mind is in could be just the opposite.” Dr Pankaj Shrivastav, medical director of Conceive, gynaecology and fertility centre
Patients often believe that all these negative feelings will magically disappear after surgery, but there are deeper issues. You don’t magically grow to love yourself once your appearance changes.” Naser Al Riyami, Emirati psychologist and hypnotherapist