Understanding Autogynephilia

Autogynephilia refers to a man's sexual arousal by the fantasy of being a woman or possessing a female body, as mentioned in the discussion. It represents one of two main pathways for natal males transitioning to a female identity, with the other being childhood onset gender identity issues. This concept, first introduced in Michael Bailey's earlier work, highlights that a small subset of men experience sexual arousal through identifying with the female role, leading them to seek gender transition. Understanding autogynephilia not only illuminates motivations for transitioning but also underscores the complexity of gender identity and sexual orientation.