"Transgender individuals have a gender identity that differs from the sex they were assigned at birth" [1]. While I am not personally transgender, the closest experience I had was while out shopping. There was an outfit on sale that looked phenomenal on the hangar. After trying it on in the fitting room, I took one look in the mirror and gasped. Despite the ensemble being a woman's outfit from the woman's department, it felt extremely masculine. Perhaps it was the cut of the fabric or how it fit on my body shape. Regardless, I felt like a woman in man's clothes and immediately changed back into the clothes I walked in with. Putting the outfit back on the hanger, I walked out with a sigh of relief. It was later that I realized how transgender individuals may feel. I sympathized with their struggles. While I could change clothes to feel like myself, those whose bodies do not match their minds / spirits are unable to change. Despite cross-dressing, surgeries, and hormone therapies, some never feel at home in their bodies.
Years ago, I came across a work newsletter. It was a place for employees to share family and life updates, as well as current events in the community. While I can't seem to find a record of the newsletter (I wish I saved a copy!), I remember distinctively a transgender woman named Trinity who transitioned from man to woman via surgery. In the article, Trinity briefly mentioned how a fertility drug from the 1940s-1970s that her mother took has been linked to several other cases of transgender persons. Trinity questioned whether or not her life experience and struggles were due to drugs.
Trininty brought up the drug Diethylstibesterol, which she and countless other transgender persons believe is the reason for them being transgender [2]. Some studies even suggest that the drug may impact sexual orientation [3]. I believe there is still much to be learned in science when it comes to human life. The factors which influence gender identity at conception, in the womb, and beyond may never be fully understood. This is why I believe more research is needed to identify the cause of transgender identity so that it can one day be eliminated. It would be a wonderful day when everyone in the world feels at peace in their body--where no one has a disconnect between their body and their mind / spirit.
For all those would-be parents out there, please be diligent about what you put into and onto your bodies. If any food or medication has hormones, it may impact your future babies. While studies are not out yet, I often wonder about the impact of hormone-based birth controls (e.g.- the "pill") on both mothers and children. It is a well established fact that mothers who ingest alcohol while pregnant have a higher likelihood of their babies being born with birth defects [4]. What other consumable substances impact babies? The world may never know.
References
1. Meerwijk, Esther L et al. "Transgender Population Size in the United States: a Meta-Regression of Population-Based Probability Samples". American Journal of Public Health. 01 Feb 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5227946/
2. WTSP Staff. "Can a drug make you transgender?". WTSP Health. 25 May 2016. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/can-a-drug-make-you-transgender/215234337
3. Troisi, Rebecca et al. "Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Identity in Women and Men Prenatally Exposed to Diethylstilbestrol". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 23 Jan 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7031187/
4. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome". The Mayo Clinic. 10 Jan 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352901#:~:text=Fetal%20alcohol%20syndrome%20is%20a,alcohol%20syndrome%20are%20not%20reversible.
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