Detransition

To “detransition” is to reverse a prior transition from one gender or sex to another, typically returning to one’s sex assigned at birth. The topic is controversial within trans communities, and the fact that some people do detransition is often cited by parents and policymakers as a reason to forbid transition to anyone. This entry begins by describing the process of detransition from medical and social forms of transition. Next, the entry discusses the various reasons why some people choose to reverse a prior transition. The section that follows presents the challenges faced by individuals undergoing detransition, and the entry concludes with a discussion of the responses of social networks and health care organizations to a person’s choice to detransition.