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Gender Dysphoria and Gender Change in Androgen Insensitivity or Micropenis

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Abstract

This review article answers three questions relevant to the medical management and care of individuals born with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS), or a micropenis: (1) Do any of these individuals reassign themselves from their initial gender assignment? (2) Do more reassign than the ones who do not? (3) Is there evidence of gender dysphoria in those who do not self-initiate reassignment? Reviewed were all articles on CAIS, PAIS, and micropenis cited in K. J. Zucker (1999) plus articles published through 2004. There were no documented cases of gender change in individuals with CAIS (N= 156 females) or micropenis (N= 89: 79 males, 10 females). Nine (9.1%) out of 99 individuals with PAIS changed gender. Thus, self-initiated gender reassignment was rare. Gender dysphoria also appears to be a rare occurrence. The best predictor of adult gender identity in CAIS, PAIS, and micropenis is initial gender assignment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo and The Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York

    Tom Mazur Psy.D.

  2. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, The Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, 219 Bryant Street, Buffalo, New York, 14222

    Tom Mazur Psy.D.

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Correspondence to Tom Mazur Psy.D..

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Mazur, T. Gender Dysphoria and Gender Change in Androgen Insensitivity or Micropenis. Arch Sex Behav 34, 411–421 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-005-4341-x

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