What is the experience of adults with a diagnosis of gender incongruence at an NHS GIC (Gender Identity Clinic) in England who have sought treatment, but decided to detransition, or retransition during the treatment pathway?

Wood, Eileen. S ORCID: 0000-0002-8706-2196 (2024). What is the experience of adults with a diagnosis of gender incongruence at an NHS GIC (Gender Identity Clinic) in England who have sought treatment, but decided to detransition, or retransition during the treatment pathway? University of Birmingham. Clin.Psy.D.

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Abstract

Introduction
Some people who experience gender incongruence, comprised typically of feelings of gender dysphoria, will refer to a GIC to access medical interventions to align their body with their gender identity (NHS England, 2013). Recent research has noted the phenomenon of people pausing or stopping (detransitioning) their gender identity following a period of transitioning, with studies in the UK suggesting this is prevalent in around 1-6.9% of cases (Hall et al., 2021; Richards & Doyle, 2019). Although some studies have noted detransition, or pausing and/or stopping, may not be wholly attributable to the cessation of feelings of gender incongruence but rather difficulties external to them (Turban et al., 2021), this area is still largely under researched.

Methods
Participants were recruited from an NHS GIC and were interviewed about their experience of pausing or stopping transition, and in some cases transitioning again. Interviews were transcribed and analysed utilising IPA methodology (Smith et al., 2021).

Results
Five participants took part in the research study, all had been assigned male at birth. Two participants had stopped gender transition and did not have any intention to transition again, one had paused and wishes to transition again, and two had already begun to transition again.
There were four main themes: 1. A sense of difference from childhood; 2. Gender transition is challenging in multiple ways; 3. Conflicts are experienced, and 4. Stopping transition has challenges and benefits.

Discussion
Gender transition is a varied experience and people experiencing this have multiple needs. Psychological support is viewed as beneficial and helpful in navigating the challenges of transition, and in pausing and stopping transition. GIC’s should consider the dynamic nature of transition in clinical decision making and offer adequate medical and psychological support.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Clin.Psy.D.

Supervisor(s):