Autogynephilia refers to a man’s sexual arousal at the thought of himself as a woman, and is considered a type of transsexual gender dysphoria. The term can be thought of in contrast to autoandrophilia, which refers to a woman's sexual arousal at the thought of being a man. There is a distinction within the classification of autogynephiliacs between heterosexual and homosexual desire.
Autogynephilia is also referred to as Blanchard’s transsexualism typology, or Blanchard’s autogynephilia theory (BAT).
More About Autogynephilia
Autogenephilia can be classified into four different types:
- Transvestic autogynephilia: When a man is sexually stimulated by the thought or act of wearing traditionally feminine clothing.
- Behavioural autogenephilia: When a man is sexually stimulated by the thought or act of doing something thought of as traditionally feminine.
- Physiologic autogynephilia: When a man is sexually stimulated by the thought or fantasy of having bodily functions specific to females.
- Anatomic Autogynephilia: When a man is sexually stimulated by the thought or fantasy of having a female body, or parts of one.
Autogynephilia is typically associated with gender identity disorder, although it is not necessarily the same disorder.
