Autogynephilia is a paraphilia in which a male is sexually aroused by the idea of himself as a woman. Detransitioners describe it as a form of “self-heterosexuality” or “inward sexuality,” where the person’s own feminized self becomes the erotic target. This can range from fantasizing about having a female body to becoming aroused by wearing women’s clothing or being perceived as a woman.

According to first-hand accounts, the key difference between ordinary body confidence and autogynephilia is that the latter involves sexual arousal directed at the idea of being female, rather than simply feeling attractive. Detransitioners note that autogynephilia can coexist with genuine gender dysphoria and intense shame, and may be fueled or complicated by porn use and dissociation.

Ray Blanchard’s two-type taxonomy (homosexual transsexual vs. autogynephilic) is considered outdated by many detransitioners, as it fails to capture rapid-onset transitions, social-contagion cases, or motivations rooted in porn addiction and dissociation.

Some detransitioners report that autogynephilia can lead to involvement in adult content or sex crimes post-transition, because the transition itself becomes part of a persistent sexual fetish. Public feminization—being seen as a woman, using female pronouns, or entering women’s spaces—can become part of the sexual gratification, sometimes escalating to non-consensual acts.