How do I know if I am transgender?

Do you feel like your gender identity is different than the gender you were assigned at birth? Do you sometimes feel more like a "boy" even though technically you're a "girl"? Do you feel like you are in the wrong body? Gender and sex are not the same thing. We can identify as a girl even if we have the body of a male. Those are some questions you can ask yourself which might help you figure out if you are transgender.

Some people know from ever since they were a little kid. Some people take a lot longer in life to begin questioning. Some people never do. Often, people that come to terms and realise that they're transgender can look back at their lives up to that point with that new knowledge of being trans, and things in their past can seem to make more sense to them. The question 'am I transgender?' is one I've seen a lot in my time. I remember when it was me asking that question. Unfortunately, there's no acid test for it; there's no definitive way to tell. For me, what helped to give me some certainty was actually listening to my feelings. Figuring out whether you're trans can be a long process, but one thing you can do is ask yourself questions. Would you be happier if the world saw you as the opposite sex to what you were assigned at birth? Do you feel you relate well to members of your assigned sex, or better to the other sex? It's also equally important to look at your answers here and question why and how that is. Allow yourself the freedom to explore your feelings. One tool that I've seen a lot when people ask these questions is this: If you had in front of you a button that you could press that would instantly and permanently change you into the sex opposite to your birth assignment, with everyone having always known you as your new sex and your entire life changed to suit that - would you press that button? And if so, why? If you feel like you'd press that button, then you might well be trans! You might also not be - there are plenty of inbetweens and outside gender identities that people can and do identify as, rather than simply male or female. It's a great idea at this point, if you're still questioning, or even if you're pretty certain, to see a therapist. A therapist can help you work through your feelings and help you look at your life, worries, questions and so on from another angle. This can be very beneficial for you in working out whether you're transgender, cisgender, or something else entirely. Once you've come to a realisation, a therapist can also help you figure out what to do next, help you to come to terms and accept yourself, and help you along with any stresses or problems you might find in moving forward with your life.

When you realize that cisgendered people don't spend a lot of time wishing they were in the body of the opposite sex or wish that they could change their body.

The best test, in my opinion, is simply seeing if you can find gender euphoria, the good feelings of happiness and rightness when you are connecting with the correct gender. Try "the pronoun dressing room" online (google for it), or ask a friend or Listener to refer to you with gendered language or pronouns you'd like to try. If something makes you feel warm and happy and connected with yourself, and it's not the gender you were assigned at birth, then you're probably trans.

As a transgender person myself, this is a difficult one to answer, and I'm not sure I can be completely impartial. But here's my experience. I always envied members of the opposite sex, from a young age. While I didn't know about words like "transgender" or "cisgender", I was aware of the definite wish to be of the other sex. As a young teen, I assumed it was down to me being gay, but as I got older I realised that wasn't the reason. Whenever I looked in the mirror, I hated what I saw. It wasn't right for me. I wasn't quite sure what it was, at first, but it just felt all wrong. I was never comfortable with other people seeing me naked, or touching me. And in all my daydreams and fantasies, I put myself in a male character. It seems obvious when you look back with hindsight, but at the time I had no idea- I didn't have that "eureka" moment until I was 18, after an afternoon of casual internet browsing led me to a site explaining transgender issues and transsexuality. There have been moments of doubt and fear since then, but deep down I know who I am.

Short answer: when filling out a form and having to choose M or F - do you feel uncomfortable, because the one you're expected to choose just doesn't feel right? (Or, in the rare case that you encounter an "other" option, do you get strangely excited? :) )

Hi! I'm transgender. I was born female, but identify as a demiboy (partly/mostly male). There is no true "you must pass all these requirements to be transgender". The best thing to do is to listen to your heart (as cliche as that is) and not be afraid to explore your gender identity. For example, for a while I identified as genderfluid, then later became more comfortable of myself and now identify as a demiboy.

Being transgender means being a different gender than what your body is presented as in the most basic sense. While some people know at young age that they are trans, for others it might take a long time! I myself only came to terms with being genderqueer when I was 17, and only came out at 19. Although there's no set way of knowing whether or not you're trans, a good way is just taking a week or a month and really thinking about how you feel. I kept a "masculine vs. feminine" journal for a long time. I noted the date, what i felt, and the situation in which I felt that way. Sometimes those who are transgender struggle with dysphoria. It's okay not to feel that- you are still a valid human being. Heck, it's even okay to not want to pass as another gender or not have a gender at all. Being trans is very, VERY personal. No one can invalidate your experience. I hope I helped!

When it comes to sexuality, there is never a clear "test" to identify if you are transgender. If you are transgender, you should be able to feel inside something is not right. Do you feel like a person living the life of someone else? Picture becoming transgender. Can you picture yourself being happy that way? I hope this helps.

Some great advice someone gave me is that cisgender people don't usually question their gender! There are many different terms under the trans umbrella. If the binary doesn't fit, that is okay! Exploring your gender identity is a wonderful but tough journey for everyone!