More research is necessary to fully understand how our hormones affect our gender identity and expression. However, some research shows that hormones may influence gender dysphoria in some people.

In the Western world, modern society tends to view sex and gender as binary concepts — in other words, as “one or the other.” So this means that many people typically view males and men within the same sex and gender binary, as well as females and women.

However, for people who experience gender dysphoria, one’s gender doesn’t necessarily feel compatible with those preconceived or assigned binaries. And while many factors can cause this sense of dysphoria, some research suggests that hormones may play a role.

Ahead, we’ll explore the possible role of hormones in gender dysphoria and share some information that might be helpful if you’re exploring your gender identity.

Research on the relationship between hormones, hormonal imbalances, and gender dysphoria is extremely limited — and so far, mostly mixed.

One 2015 study explored the physiological and psychosocial characteristics of transgender adolescents seeking care for gender dysphoria. In this study, the researchers included transfeminine and transmasculine adolescents in the analysis.

Results of the study showed that overall physiological characteristics, including hormone levels, of transgender youth are similar to the characteristics in non-transgender adolescents.

However, a study from 2018 analyzed the potential genetic link between gender dysphoria and sex hormone signaling in transgender women.

Study results showed a significant association between changes in several sex-hormone-signaling genes and gender dysphoria in study participants. Some of these genetic differences may play a role in developing gender dysphoria, according to the researchers.

Lack of studies and conflicting results make it difficult to say what effect hormones might have on gender dysphoria. Ultimately, more research is necessary before health experts can say that hormones play a definitive role.

Getting involved in the research

If you’d like to help scientists better understand the relationship between hormones and gender, you can get involved in a clinical study or survey. Check out ClinicalStudies.gov to learn more about current calls for participants.

Make sure to discuss participation in any clinical study with your primary healthcare team.

Gender is one of many social constructs we’ve created as humans, and it’s one that researchers now believe exists on a spectrum alongside gender identity.

Gender identity refers to how we perceive and describe ourselves within that construct. Because gender is a spectrum, people can identify with many genders.

Several factors can influence someone’s gender identity, including biological factors like hormones. However, we usually define our gender identity based on far more than just our hormones.

According to a 2017 research review, gender identity is a complex construct that various factors can influence. In fact, biological, social, and environmental factors all appear to play a role in developing someone’s gender identity.

Biological factors, such as genetics, hormones, and neuroanatomy, may influence how someone perceives their own gender. For example, hormonal changes in puberty can influence how adolescents feel about their bodies and gender identities.

Social factors like gender roles, parental guidance, media portrayals, and other environmental influences can also shape someone’s gender identity. As children learn about gender from their parents or other authority figures, for example, it can influence the way they feel about themselves.

Exploring your gender identity

Our perception of our gender is often more complex than one or two factors — and we all navigate the journey of finding our gender identity in different ways.

If you’re exploring what gender means to you, our Gender Identity & Expression hub has plenty of helpful resources to guide you. Here are some of our top picks to get you started:

Gender dysphoria involves a disconnect between one’s assigned sex or gender and one’s perceived gender. Gender dysphoria can feel different from person to person — and it’s something that anyone can experience, not just trans people.

While some research suggests a possible relationship between hormones and gender dysphoria, more studies are necessary to understand the relationship fully.