The discrete syndromes of transvestism and transsexualism

The literature concerning the relationship between transvestism and transsexualism is briefly reviewed. Some workers consider the two conditions to be on a continuum, whereas others feel that they are independent clinical entities. To clarify the relationship between the two syndromes, biographical data were collected and penile volume changes recorded in 29 subjects who identified themselves as transsexuals and 35 who identified themselves as transvestites. In comparison to the transvestite subjects, significantly more transsexuals were younger, were single, cross-dressed fully, and reported homosexual interest, a feminine gender identity, and a desire for a sex-change surgery. In comparison to the transsexual subjects, significantly more transvestites reported heterosexual interest, cross-dressed partially, and had shown fetishistic arousal. It is concluded that transvestism and transsexualism are separate clinical entities.This project was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council grant.