What is the experience of adults assigned male at birth with a diagnosis of Gender Incongruence at an NHS gender identity clinic in England who have sought treatment but decided to detransition or retransition during the treatment pathway?

Abstract

The phenomenon of gender identity detransition broadly speaking happens when someone re-identifies with their assigned-sex after transitioning their gender identity. There is a growing body of evidence exploring the prevalance of detransition yet few studies have sought to understand the lived experience of gender detransition, and those who also retransition. Five participants were recruited from an NHS GIC and interviewed about their experience of detransition. Interview transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. There were four main themes: (a) a sense of difference from childhood is experienced; (b) gender transition is challenging in multiple ways; (c) conflicts are experienced; and (d) stopping transition has challenges and benefits. Gender identity transition and detransition is a varied experience and people have multiple needs.