The gender nonbinary adolescent

Abstract

Prevailing Western attitudes, research, and treatment guidelines favor binary transgender identities, yet nonbinary-identified adolescents are increasingly asking for support to create a phenotype that matches their authentic sense of self. Sex hormones produce binary effects, each nonbinary identity is deeply individual, and some adolescents do not experience dysphoria but choose to identify as nonbinary due to their beliefs about gender. Evaluation and care decisions may be complex and must be personalized for these young people, however the evidence base on physical and psychological outcomes is only just emerging. Below we describe some of the challenges and opportunities in evaluation and care decisions with nonbinary adolescents.