Autistic people can struggle understanding their emotions and can often feel out of place. This can include struggling with their gender identity.
Gender identity and biological sex are different things. People are usually assigned a sex at birth according to their genitals.
Some people identify as the sex they were given at birth and others don’t.
Others may identify as neither female or male.
Some people may feel both male and female at different times.
We all express our gender in different ways, for example in how we dress and act.
Gender dysphoria
People may experience discomfort or distress when their given sex is different from the gender they identify with.
This is known as gender dysphoria (GD).
There is some evidence to show a link between gender dysphoria and autism, and that autistic people may be more likely than other people to have gender dysphoria.
However, there is little evidence about the reason(s) why. Some recent research suggests the link between autism and gender dysphoria is not so clear.
More research is required to develop and test assessment tools, support and treatment for autistic people experiencing gender dysphoria.
The list of charities and organisations below offer support for children, young people, parent and carers surrounding sex and gender:
- National Autistic Society (NAS): guide for parents
- NHS: Young People's Sexual Health Clinic
- Turning Point: Young Hounslow Sexual Health
- NHS: Gender dysphoria
- NHS: Gender Identity Clinic (GIC)
- Young Minds: Gender identity
- Stonewall: LGBTQ+ support
- Gender Identity Research & Education Society (GIRES)
- MindMate: Gender and neurodiversity
- The Brain Charity: LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity
