His early history is like that of a transvestite beginning to cross-dress during the teen years. The nonandrophilic transsexual may self-identify for many years as a heterosexual transvestite. He is sexually aroused by female clothing and may be satisfied with cross- dressing until reaching middle age. It may delay the need to resolve this conflict until later in adult life when the erotic component begins to fade. This path is sometimes referred to as secondary transsexualism.
Nonandrophilic transsexuals seem to have poorer overall psychosocial adjustment.
However, they are likely to do better economically. It is difficult to estimate the actual percentage of transsexuals who are gynephilic. Most of the studies are done with participants in a gender reorientation program.