A medical expert has reported a dramatic increase in cases of gender dysphoria [1], where people feel that their gender does not match the biological sex of their bodies. Professor Donal O’Shea, consultant endocrinologist at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, Dublin, said that there were 210 cases last year, compared with 10 in 2007, which represents an increase of more than 20 fold.
A decade ago, most cases involved males but that has now balanced out with around the same number of males and females presenting.
He said there is a growing awareness that gender is a spectrum that is not black or white and that people were exploring their gender more now. Some people attempt to transition to a new sex using surgical or hormonal interventions. Nonetheless, he said he has seen patients who transitioned hastily, ultimately regretting the decision after irreversible treatment has taken place.
Under law since 2015, a person can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate in order to have their preferred gender recognised by the State as their actual sex. To date, 403 certificates have been issued. There is no need for an operation, consultation with a doctor, or hormone treatment. Someone with a woman’s body can be recognized as a man, or vice versa, based only on their say-so.