Transvestic fetishism is a psychiatric diagnosis applied to people who are sexually aroused by the act of cross-dressing and experience significant distress or impairment – socially or occupationally – because of their behavior.
[2][1] It differs from cross-dressing without distress or impairment, and/or for entertainment or other purposes that do not involve sexual arousal.
[3] The DSM-5 states that late-onset gender dysphoria in adolescent and adult natal males is preceded by "transvestic behavior with sexual excitement" in many cases.
[4] According to DSM-IV, transvestic fetishism was limited to heterosexual men; however, the DSM-5 does not have this restriction, and opens it to women and men with this interest, regardless of their sexual orientation.
[5] There are two key criteria before a psychiatric diagnosis of "transvestic fetishism" is made:[1]