In most cases, a person with gender dysphoria will begin to feel that something is wrong with their sex and gender identity during early childhood, although for others, this may not happen until adulthood. Most transsexuals will have begun to experience problems before the age of two years old.

There are no physical symptoms of gender dysphoria, but there is specific behaviour that people with the condition may display. The behavioural symptoms of children, adolescents and adults with gender dysphoria are detailed below.

Symptoms of gender dysphoria in children

If your child has gender dysphoria, their behaviour may include:

• insisting that they are of the opposite sex,
• disliking or refusing to wear clothes typically worn by their sex, and wanting to wear clothes typically worn by the opposite sex,
• disliking or refusing to take part in activities and games typically meant for their sex, and wanting to take part in activities and games typically meant for the opposite sex,
• disliking or refusing to pass urine as their sex usually does, for example, a boy may want to sit down to pass urine, and a girl may want to stand,
• insisting or hoping that their genitals will change, for example, a boy may want to be rid of his penis, and a girl may want to grow a penis, and
• feeling extreme distress at the physical changes of puberty.

Children with gender dysphoria may display all or only a few of these behaviours. However, in many cases, behaviour such as this is just a part of childhood, and does not necessarily mean that your child has gender dysphoria.

For example, many girls behave in a way which can be described as 'tomboyish', which is often seen as part of normal female development. It is also not uncommon for boys to role play as girls and dress up in their mother's or sister's clothes, and although this may be seen as less acceptable, it is usually nothing more than a phase. Most children who behave in these ways do not go on to have gender dysphoria or to become transsexuals, only in rare cases does the behaviour persist into adolescence and adulthood.

Symptoms of gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults

If the feelings of gender dysphoria are still present by adolescence and adulthood, it is likely that they are not simply a phase, or part of a stage of development. If you are an adolescent or adult whose feelings of gender dysphoria started in childhood, you may now have a much clearer sense of your gender identity, and the way you want to deal with it. Many people with extreme cases of the condition are fully transsexual by the time they are in their teens.

The ways in which gender dysphoria affects adolescents and adults is different to the way in which it affects children. If you are an adolescent or adult with gender dysphoria, you may feel:

• without doubt that your gender identity is at odds with your sex,
• comfortable only when in the gender role of your preferred gender identity,
• a strong desire to hide, or be rid of the physical signs of your sex, such as breasts, body hair, and muscle definition, and
• a strong dislike for, and a strong desire to change, or be rid of the genitalia of your sex.

These feelings can be extremely difficult to deal with, and many transsexuals and people with gender dysphoria may experience depression, or even suicidal feelings. If you have been experiencing feelings of depression or suicide, you should see your GP as soon as possible, who will be able to provide help and support.