There are multiple reasons why transactivists have been unable to completely suppress the word autogynephilia and the knowledge of men who are sexually aroused at the thought or image of themselves as women.

One reason is the testimony of autogynephilic men who recognized themselves in clinical writings and experienced relief rather than shame and horror at being “exposed.” Such men have confirmed the existence of autogynephilia on multiple online venues.

A second reason is the many autogynephiles who post videos of themselves cross-dressed, often in their bathrooms or bedrooms, moving around and posing in what they consider a feminine, seductive manner, and exhibiting subtle or obvious signs of sexual excitement.

A third reason is the testimony of autogynephiles’ ex-wives, who sometimes provide first-hand accounts of their husbands’ autogynephilic behavior from the standpoint of (usually unwilling) participant-observers.