Gender Identity
How you see your gender is known as your gender identity. If your gender identity does not match the gender you were assigned at birth, you may identify as trans. Nowadays, “trans” is generally accepted to include those who have a non-binary gender identity, meaning that they may not see themselves as male or female, as both, or having no fixed gender identity. It also includes trans men (men who were believed to be female at birth) and trans women (women who were believed to be male at birth).
Many trans people socially transition. This is the process of starting to live in the gender that is right for you rather than the one assigned to you at birth. This can be a long process, and include changing your name and your appearance.
Some trans people may wish to medically transition. This can mean taking hormones and having surgery.
It is up to you how you transition, and it is ok to change again in the future. The Terrence HIggins Trust has information for trans people, explaining the different transitions: www.tht.org.uk/transwomen and www.tht.org.uk/transmen. There are non-binary sections in each of these links.
Trans people have worse health outcomes than cis people (those whose gender matches the gender they were assigned at birth). Trans people do, unfortunately, often report prejudice in accessing healthcare, both for gender identity services and routine health.
The Equality Act legislation means that it is illegal for anyone in the NHS to refuse to treat you or to treat you unfairly because of their prejudice against trans people. Sometimes very clear discriminatory attitudes towards trans people are shown by healthcare professionals or NHS staff and this is unacceptable.
You have a right to complain if you are treated badly and should not get worse care as a result. Find out how to complain here.
As a trans person, there are certain things that you need to consider about your health which may be different to cis people. This includes sexual health, screening and access to healthcare for trans people. [link to each of these].
If you wish to medically transition, there are also specific things you need to consider and be aware of. Terrence Higgins Trust have resources around medical transition for trans men and trans women.
Further trans info
Resources
Gires trans health fact sheets.
Gires also has information about surgery for trans women here.
LGBT Foundation Trans Resource Bank.
Terrence Higgins Trust general resources for trans men and trans women.