NIH: A Further Assessment of Blanchard’s Typology of Homosexual Versus Non-Homosexual or Autogynephilic Gender Dysphoria

Article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2894986/

Summary

This study invalidates previous findings of the Blanchard study that autogynephilia predicted low levels of gynephilia.

The other finding, that being a transgender woman and gynephilic predicts autogynephilia is misleading until put in context.

Here's how they gathered the data:

If participants reported any public or private feminine dressing for any amount of time, they were further queried as to whether or not this feminine dressings as “sexually arousing” at this time in their life.

The way this question is phrased makes two assumptions:

1. That transgender, gynephilic women have higher rates of autogynephilia than cisgender women.
2. That this self-described autogynephilia is a factor in determining transition.

I can only demonstrate this with an anecdote, but I would love to see the same study performed on cisgender women. I asked my bisexual cisgender-woman friend, "have you ever walked passed a mirror and been aroused by your own image?" She responded, "yes." I respond the same way. However, arousal does not factor into my desire to transition. The premise is absurd as transgender women are acutely aware that libido decreases upon starting HRT. If arousal were a factor, starting HRT would not be an appealing idea.