men and women with this condition takes place much later in life and is based on
the conclusion of a thorough psycho-diagnostic process that concludes that a
disorder has occurred in the process of sexual differentiation and that the man or
woman will benefit from hormonal and surgical sex assignment.
Summary
The current medical viewpoint, based on the most up-to-date scientific
research, is that transsexualism, is strongly associated with a neuro-
developmental condition of the brain^4 and this theory of physical
development has held over almost fifty years.^5 There is now evidence to consider
that for men and women with transsexualism, the differentiation process of the brain
which occurs in the first years after birth has not followed the expected course of the
preceding criteria of sex (chromosomal, gonadal, and genital)^6. Medical professionals
working in these fields for over half a century agree that there is not one cause for
transsexualism , but that 'genetic, prenatal (before birth) hormonal, postnatal (after
birth) social, and post pubertal (after puberty) hormonal determinants' are all
mutually responsible.^7 Hormonal and surgical treatment for this condition is highly
successful under medical supervision, with up to a 97% success rate^8 in the case of
individuals identified 'female' at birth.
Footnotes
1. Gooren LJ, (2000) University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, affidavit in
Bellinger v Bellinger , TLR 22- 11 - 2000.
2. Gender Dysphoria, 2004, The Gender Identity Research & Education Society UK.
3. Gooren LJ, (2000) University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, affidavit in
Bellinger v Bellinger , TLR 22- 11 - 2000.
4. Benjamin, H (1953) 'Transvestism and Transsexualism', Journal of Sex Research , 5:2, p. 13;
Hoenig, J (1985) 'The Origin of Gender Identity' Gender Dysphoria, ed. Steiner, B W, New
York: Plenum Press; and Docter, R F (1988) Transvestites and Transsexuals, Towards a
Theory of Cross-Gender Behaviour, New York: Plenum Press, p. 63. Hoenig follows
Benjamin in ultimately depending on a biological force or forces to account for
transsexualism. Summarising and commenting on this and other medical viewpoints
Docter indicates that the overall weight of evidence is that there is "the formation of some
kind of gender system within the brain that is fundamental to ultimate gender identity
and gender-role development"; Reiner, WG. (1997) To Be Male or Female - That is the
Question, Arch Pediatric Adol. Medicine 151:225 "the organ that appears to be critical to
psychosexual development and adaptation is not the external genitalia, but the brain".
5. Playdon, ZJ, 2000, Transsexualism as an Intersex Condition, Correspondence with Dr
Stephen Whittle , UK
6. Gooren L G J (1993) 'Biological Aspects of Transsexualism and their relevance to its legal
aspects', Proceedings of the XXIIIrd Colloquy on European Law: Transsexualism, Medicine
and the Law, Strasbourg ; Council of Europe.