Non-transsexual observers seem to find that post-transition transsexual women are often more "female than [genetic] females" in their life style and social beliefs, and a few (usually those that transition in middle age) do indeed seem to be almost a living stereotype of the feminine ideal.  Some transwomen undoubtedly strongly feel that as a woman they should only want to have sexual relations with a man, and in this instance any residual sexual attraction to women rather than men becomes both unimportant and something to be suppressed.  Going further, for a few transsexual women (like for some genetic women), marriage and even motherhood via the adoption of children becomes their overriding goal, and perhaps an ultimate symbol and proof of their womanhood.  Indeed, the Stepford Wives may be still be alive and well - albeit transwomen!

While most heterosexual transwomen are heterosexual for reasons of choice and preference, it seems likely that in some instances the adoption of a heterosexual orientation is closely related to the transsexual woman's success in passing and assimilating herself as a woman. 

Social conformance - even in the twenty-first century - encourages the successfully passing transwoman to enter in to "normal" sexual relationships with men as far as she is physically capable, while intimate relationships with other women risks "rocking the boat" and unwanted curiosity and gossip.  

Entering into a committed relationship with a man undoubtedly tends to pull a transwoman away from any open acknowledgement of her transsexuality and male past, and encourages an apparently heterosexual orientation in public - what ever her secret inclinations might still be.  As the table above shows, many heterosexual transsexual women hide their male past from partners and even their husband, feeling (unfortunately often correctly) that the relationship may not survive this becoming known to him.  Even if the partner knows about and accepts the woman's transsexuality, their friends and his family might not be so open minded, and external pressures and prejudice could eventually destroy the relationship. 

The other side of the coin is that post-SRS heterosexual transwomen who are unable to pass well are often faced with great difficulty in attracting and having a relationships with men.  Brief relationships with 'normal' heterosexual men ending in tears or worse, one night stands with dubious and often disappointed tranny chasers, and eventual sexual abstinence is common among those in their 30's and 40's; while those over age 50 may struggle to get any sexual interest from men.  One post-SRS transwoman - who desperately wants a relationship with a 'straight' man but finds herself to be out'ed within minutes - despairingly says "no man wants to have sex with a transsexual when they can have a real woman".   [MTF women thinking about transition and surgery should bear this in mind] 

Based upon the limited available evidence it can be suspected:

A) The younger a woman's age at SRS, the more likely an apparent heterosexual female orientation will be, the obvious corollary being that the greater the woman's age at SRS, the more likely a lesbian or bisexual orientation is. 

Jennifer transitioned at 21 and had SRS at the relatively young age of 30.  Now 39, she is still seeking Mr Right.

B) The more "passable" a woman is (which is partly linked to her age at the time of SRS), the more likely an apparent heterosexual orientation is. 

1. A continuing a sexual attraction to women, if strong this may lead to a drift in to lesbian relationships, if weak it may lead to an avoidance of any sexual activity at all;

2. Continuation of a relationship with a former wife or female partner on a sexual or non-sexual basis;

3. Sexual relationships with other transsexual women.  [see below]

Anne Lawrence found in her survey that 54% of the participants had been predominantly attracted to women before SRS, and 25% still were afterwards.

Non-Sexual Transwomen
Non-sexuality can also be caused by one or more of:

1. A genuine lack of sexual urges;

   Kimberley Langley legally married her lesbian partner after having sex reassignment surgery.

2. Poor surgical results - for example lack of vaginal depth, poor appearance of the vulva, or intercourse is painful;

3. Failure to attract desirable partners, for example due to an inability to pass convincingly;

4. A conscious suppression of inconvenient or undesired sexual urges, e.g. due to having AIDS or fear of possible discovery during intercourse;

5. Participation in a relationship in which the other partner doesn't want to engage in sexual relations.

From non-scientifically obtained evidence - around 15% of all post-SRS women have never had an intimate sexual relationship since their surgery.

Bisexual Transwomen
A relatively high percentage of transwomen enter sexual relationships with both men and women.  The reasons are varied, for example: one night stands; curiosity; and social conformance (e.g. a public relationship with a man but secret lesbian relationships).

Transcouple Kristen (left) and Mary

Transcouples
It is not unusual for a transsexual woman to enter in to a relationship with a another transsexual, usually another male-to-female MTF) woman but occasionally a female-to-male (FTM) man.  An important, though perhaps not overriding, benefit of such a relationship is the couples shared experiences, support and understanding about each others transsexuality, something which a relationship with a non-transsexual person can not provide.  Also, the transcouple do not need to face the risks and worries of going stealth in order to establish and maintain the relationship with their partner.

A significant proportion of transsexual women admit to being attracted to other transsexual women, indeed one small survey found that half of the respondents were strongly attracted to other transsexual women.  Naturally this attraction often leads to relationships, both of a "one night stand" and of a more permanent nature.  Sexually, these are technically lesbian relationships, but interestingly the partners are frequently not attracted to non-transsexual genetic women.

When a MTF woman enters in to a relationship with a FTM man, generally both partners are insistent that it is a conventional, heterosexual relationship.

A staged but effective picture of an attractive and petite young transsexual woman in a locker room with male admirers

Young Transsexuals
Unlike older transsexuals, the sexual orientation of young transsexual women (meaning those who transition and start treatment before age 20) is rarely in doubt, they are usually as fervently interested in boys as any teenage girl! 

Talisa who transitioned her teens and SRS age 17 says: "I'm all woman and enjoyed being with [her partner] because he's all man.  I'm more feminine than most women I know.  The fact I was born a man is just an inconvenient technicality." 

Tamalah, who transitioned at age 18, says "I knew from as early as I can remember that I was a girl.  I didn't consider myself gay, I considered myself a heterosexual female."  Both before and after the surgery, she presented herself as a woman and was often asked out by men. "I figured what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them, as long as I didn't sleep with them."

Claudia had begun to dress as a woman when age 18 she met 'Martin' ("a cross between Jesus and George Best") and moved in with him.  He wouldn't admit that he was guy and Claudia soon felt pressurised in to transitioning, taking hormones and eventually getting surgery.  "Martin slept with women the whole time I was with him, and would say, 'If you were a girl, this wouldn't be happening,' and of course I believed him."  A year after her SRS surgery at age 28, Martin left Claudia - who now regrets having SRS but continues to live her life as woman.

In a similar early experience, Maxine notes "At age 14 I experienced my 'first time' while on holiday ... [he was] six foot tall, wash board belly, unbelievably sexy.  He chatted me up on the beach and we went to his hotel room.  He slowly undressed me.  It was beautiful.  There was nothing I wanted more that night than to be a whole woman."

To please her boyfriend, Maxine began taking female hormones and had breast implants at age 17.

Whether the man is understanding or not, clearly the situation is extremely unsatisfactory.  The girls desire to normalise her body and have vaginal intercourse often becomes a key driver for her seeking surgery as soon as possible.  Waiting to her 18th birthday before having sex-reassignment surgery - as is required by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Standard Of Care that most doctors and surgeons conform to - can be a bitter and sexually very frustrating test of endurance.

A male face - the left version is feminised and the right version masculinised.

It's the Hormones...
Research has found that genetic women who are at the most fertile part of their menstrual cycle (i.e. have high oestrogen levels) tend to be particularly attracted to men with strong masculine features (big muscles, square jaws, prominent brow...) which indicate high levels of the male sex hormone testosterone.  Those women who are in the low fertility part of their cycle prefer less masculine but often more sensitive and caring men - who tend to invest more in relationships and are more likely to make a sensible long-term mate.

Taking of birth control pill upsets this cycle and women on the pill (with raised oestrogen levels) tend to generally favour the more masculine face all the time.  There's an implication that the high oestrogen levels of a transwoman on female hormones may also tug her sexual attraction towards a male partner. 

Additionally, pregnant woman apparently prefer glowing, healthy looking faces in their sexual partner - this appears to be caused by their raised levels of progesterone - which many transsexual women take in relatively high doses.