Hi everyone welcome back to another episode of the savvy psychologist I'm

Dr. Ellen Hendrickson and every week I'll help you meet life's challenges

with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment. This week, by request from listener Cindy in Iowa, we'll take a look at the still evolving science of what causes someone to be transgender.

Plus the surprising reason why gender dysphoria is considered a disorder.

Recent legislative struggles around public restrooms and

transgender rights have been so contentious they made Caitlin Jenner

have to pee. She posted a video of herself walking into the women's restroom at Trump Tower.

Not anymore, she says, as she passes the men's room.

Needing a bathroom break is basic biology.

Caitlin even posted her video with the hashtag everyone has to pee. But as the science of

transgenderism advances, it seems that being transgender is basic biology too. Usually when we ask questions along the lines of why people

are the way they are, the answer falls somewhere between nature and nurture.

Being transgender however seems not to be one of these things.

While the research is still in its infancy, so far, the answer is overwhelmingly nature.

And how do we know? While the biological basis of transgenderism is still being

uncovered, there are some leads hotter than Lea T's outfits. One recent finding is that anatomical sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation are all

determined in the womb.

Everything is set before birth and in sequence. Sexual anatomy happens first in the first six weeks of development.

But once anatomy is settled, there is a big time lag until about six months gestation

before the brain

masculineizes or feminizes. And at that point

if exposed to a testosterone surge,

...