15 Feb Gender Identity Is A Biologic Process
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Joshua D. Safer MD, FACP
Director, Endocrinology Fellowship Training and Endocrinology Education
Boston University Medical Center
Associate Professor of Medicine and Molecular Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Safer: This is a review of the current medical literature in favor of the biologic nature of gender identity. The main barrier to medical care for transgender patients is lack of physicians with the knowledge and willingness to provide that care. A major concern of physicians is that this is a mental health issue, meaning that transgender hormone therapy and surgery may be too drastic a response to an individual who should be counseled instead. The review lays out the evidence to make it clear that a major component of gender identity is biologic even if we don’t have the exact details worked out. Therefore, counseling alone cannot address the disconnect between transgender individuals’ gender identity and their physical bodies.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Safer: Once comfortable that gender identity is biologic, the next step is to logically address how to deal with someone who has a transgender identity. The data are quite strong that changing the physical appearance to match the gender identity is far and away the most successful approach.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Safer: There is much future research to be done. Even if it is becoming clearer that gender identity is a biologic process, the exact biology is far from understood. As well, much work needs to be done to determine the most effective and safest treatment regimens.
Citation:
Evidence Supporting the Biological Nature of Gender Identity.
Saraswat A1, Weinand M2, Safer JD3.
Endocr Pract. 2015 Feb 9:1-20. [Epub ahead of print]
[wysija_form id=”1″]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, & Joshua D. Safer MD, FACP (2015). Gender Identity Is A Biologic Process MedicalResearch.com
Last Updated on February 15, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD