A person diagnosed with gender dysphoria will be assessed to see if they are a suitable candidate for hormone therapy. This may include, the length and severity of any previous experience of gender dysphoria, the age at which they experienced it and how long they experienced it for. Generally speaking, individuals must experience some form or degree of distress or impairment before receiving a diagnosis.
In the UK, a gender dysphoria diagnosis can be obtained from either a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
The process usually starts with an initial consultation. In this meeting, you will discuss your symptoms and feelings with the clinician to see if they meet the criteria for gender dysphoria.
In some instances, you may need to undertake a formal assessment about your mental health before receiving an appointment for a diagnosis.
This is to ensure that your condition does not affect your ability to make decisions or take part in treatment.
The assessment could be a brief interview, questionnaires or self-evaluation exercises - it depends on what's required by the diagnosing clinician.