“It feels like a lightness, and it feels… happy”: Qualitative exploration of transgender and non-binary adults’ understanding of gender euphoria, gender dysphoria, and sexual wellbeing

Introduction: considerable research with transgender individuals has centered on gender dysphoria, neglecting the diverse range of transgender experiences and minimizing the importance of opportunities for positive self-identification. However, an emerging body of literature challenges this pathologizing perspective by exploring the concept of gender euphoria, which highlights the affirmative dimensions of transgender experiences and disputes the idea that transgender identities are exclusively defined by hardship and distress. Consequently, this study sought to address the following questions: 1) How do transgender people conceptualize and define gender euphoria as opposed to gender dysphoria?, 2) What are transgender individuals’ experiences with gender euphoria as opposed to gender dysphoria during sexual encounters?, and 3) What additional factors do transgender individuals report as being beneficial or detrimental for their overall sexual wellbeing?<br/><br/>Methods and results: drawing from 24 interviews with transgender and non-binary participants and using reflexive thematic analysis, five themes were generated: definitions of gender dysphoria and gender euphoria; cissexist norms and LGBTQ+ community norms; relationship characteristics and sexual wellbeing; embodied gender dysphoria, gender euphoria, and changes through transition; and sexual behaviors.<br/><br/>Discussion: these findings provide insights into gender euphoria among transgender individuals and practical implications for researchers and practitioners. Understanding gender euphoria’s impact on sexual experiences may help enhance the sexual health and overall wellbeing of transgender individuals.