Do you have gender dysphoria? Take this quiz

Gender dysphoria (GD) is a condition in which a person feels significant psychological distress because their gender identity doesn’t align with the sex they were assigned at birth. It’s important to note that being transgender is an identity, not a mental health condition. Gender dysphoria affects around 1.6 million Americans, but not all transgender people experience it.

You may already know that you experience gender dysphoria, or you may still be learning and exploring. Here, we’ve put together a free gender dysphoria quiz. It may help you answer questions about yourself or confirm what you already know.

Remember, an online quiz can’t provide you with a diagnosis — nor should it replace a psychological assessment from a licensed mental health provider. The only way to get a gender dysphoria diagnosis is to speak with a mental health professional.

Self-test for gender dysphoria

Take our two-minute assessment quiz to see if your experiences may be related to gender dysphoria. Your answers can provide insight, but only a licensed professional can diagnose gender dysphoria. We created this quiz based on the criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Read the following questions, and choose the answer that best describes you.

• Do you have a strong desire to express your gender in ways that differ from societal expectations based on your biological sex?
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Always

• Do you have a strong desire to change or alter the body parts that don’t align with your gender identity??
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Always

• Do you experience intense discomfort or dissatisfaction with body parts that don’t match your gender identity?
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Always

• Do you feel like you relate more deeply to a gender that’s different from your own?
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Always

• Do these feelings cause distress and difficulty in your everyday life?
  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Often
  • Always

• Have you been experiencing these feelings consistently for a significant period of time?
  • Yes
  • No

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How can you know if you have gender dysphoria?

If you answered “often” or “always” to any of these questions, it’s possible that you might be experiencing gender dysphoria — especially if you’ve experienced these feelings for six months or longer. However, even if you answered “sometimes,” it could be helpful to learn more about gender dysphoria to better understand your experiences. If you find that you’re experiencing these feelings — whether often, sometimes, or rarely — it may be helpful to talk to a mental health professional who can assess your symptoms and help guide your next steps

Only you can know whether you experience gender dysphoria. Most of the time, getting an official diagnosis is more about getting access to certain services and accommodations than it is about “finding out” that you have gender dysphoria.

If you feel emotional distress because your gender doesn’t match your biological sex, you may have gender dysphoria. Emotional distress could include painful feelings like sadness, grief, anger, resentment, discomfort, or disgust.

Keep in mind that having gender dysphoria isn’t the same as being transgender. Although many transgender people live with gender dysphoria, being transgender isn’t a mental health condition or a medical diagnosis in itself. Gender dysphoria refers to the emotional distress that arises from a mismatch between one’s gender identity and their sex assigned at birth, not from being transgender. Some transgender people may never experience gender dysphoria at all.

If you feel that your distress might be due to gender dysphoria, it’s important to consult a mental healthcare provider to discuss your experiences and whether gender dysphoria may be part of your journey.

For example, a trans person who’s received gender-affirming care may experience less distress or no longer feel gender dysphoria because they feel more aligned with their gender. However, others may continue to experience dysphoria even after receiving care. Additionally, some transgender or nonbinary people who have always had their gender affirmed and celebrated may never develop gender dysphoria.

Can cis people have gender dysphoria?

Most people who have gender dysphoria are genderqueer. In some ways, experiencing gender dysphoria — feeling significant distress that your gender doesn’t match your biological sex — inherently describes people who aren’t cisgender. “Cisgender” describes a person whose gender identity matches their biological sex.

But cis people can experience distress related to gender, similar to gender dysphoria, even if they feel that their gender mostly matches their biological sex or physical appearance. Research shows that cisgender people — especially cis women — can experience gender-related distress, though at much lower rates than trans people.

For example, as a cisgender woman, you might enjoy feeling feminine. But then you might have to shave the hair on your head and feel uncomfortable with your new, more masculine appearance. These feelings could resemble experiences of gender dysphoria. Or you might have been told that you have more feminine facial features as someone who identifies as a man, which makes you feel frustrated or even distressed. 

This is why gender-affirming care is relevant and important for everyone, not only trans people. Fighting for the right to gender-affirming care can support all of us in feeling more comfortable with the way we express our gender.

Getting diagnosed with gender dysphoria

To be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, you must meet the diagnostic criteria. A healthcare professional will speak with you and ask questions about your history, experiences, and emotions. They can compare their observations with the symptoms of gender dysphoria laid out in the DSM-5.

You don’t necessarily need an official diagnosis of gender dysphoria. In fact, the diagnosis itself is controversial. Many people feel that it continues to pathologize and stigmatize the spectrum of gender identity. But some people may find getting a diagnosis helpful for both personal and logistical reasons. For example, a diagnosis could provide you with a feeling of validation. Either way, it’s completely up to you if you want to get a diagnosis.

In addition, a lack of diagnosis can sometimes be used as a barrier to gender-affirming care — for example, in some U.S. states, you can’t get gender-affirming surgery or take hormones without a diagnosis. Gender-affirming care has been shown to greatly improve mental health and quality of life for trans people. But you don’t need to get surgery (or make any physical changes at all) to be trans or nonbinary.

You’re also legally entitled to workplace accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act if you get an official gender dysphoria diagnosis. This could be helpful in many ways, like allowing you to get paid time off for medical care or getting access to a private rest area.

Find care with Rula

Whether to get a diagnosis of gender dysphoria is a decision only you can make. With or without a diagnosis, working with a gender-affirming therapist can help you learn more about yourself, feel more comfortable and confident, and build relationships with people who celebrate you as you are.

At Rula, we work with over 15,000 therapists from a wide range of backgrounds, and 97% of searches for therapists result in an exact match. Plus, you can get a therapy appointment — covered by insurance — as soon as tomorrow.

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