F40.291

Billable

Gynephobia

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 133 — Personality Disorders, Anxiety, and Other Specified Mental Disorders

0.000

What This Code Means

An intense, irrational fear of women or female-dominated situations.

Coding Tips

•This is a rare diagnosis; ensure documentation clearly supports gynephobia rather than social anxiety
•Document specific situations that trigger the fear and functional limitations

Clinical Significance

Gynephobia is a specific phobia involving an intense, irrational fear of women. Similar to androphobia, this phobia can significantly impair social and occupational functioning. It should be distinguished from social anxiety and evaluated for potential underlying psychological factors.

Documentation Requirements

✓Marked fear or anxiety specifically about women or female presence
✓Fear is disproportionate and irrational
✓Consistent anxiety response in the presence of women
✓Avoidance behaviors and functional impact
✓Duration of 6+ months
✓Assessment for underlying conditions that may better explain the fear pattern

Commonly Confused Codes

F40.290 (Androphobia) — Fear of men vs. fear of women — ensure correct gender-specific code F40.10 (Social phobia, unspecified) — Social phobia is broader; gynephobia is specifically about women F40.298 (Other specified phobia) — Use the specific code F40.291 rather than the residual category

Code Hierarchy

└F40Phobic anxiety disorders └F40.2Specific (isolated) phobias └F40.29Other specified phobia └F40.291Gynephobia

└F40.291Gynephobia