Archive FAQ

[kristoff]

Recently, a few of us behind the scenes have been discussing the idea of updating and expanding our FAQ. I would invite a broader participation in the discussion, and so am going to ask a couple of very wide open questions and invite everyone's response.

Which information do you think needs to be in our FAQ? What is missing? What should be expanded upon, and how? If you have suggested language, please post that too.

[JesusA (imported)]

Kristoff is right about the need to update the FAQ on the Archive. When the front page is next re-done, we intend to have a prominent link directly to the Frequently Asked Questions for newcomers to explore.

We need both to rewrite the current text and to consider what additional topics ought to be presented on this page. The currently listed topics are

• How will castration affect my fertility?

• How will castration change my personality?

• How will castration affect my sex drive?

• What changes can I expect in my body after castration?

• What are the major emotional and psychological concerns with castration?

• What are the major physical concerns with castration?

• What kind of long term medical care do I need?

• More Information [which has a link to the thread titled “Castration Primer” ( http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=10173

)]

What additional topics need to be here for newcomers? Are there any other threads that should be linked from the FAQ? Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

[JesusA (imported)]

Currently the first topic in the set of Frequently asked questions is

How will castration affect my fertility?

The current text is very short and simple:

Infertility, in all cases. If this could be an issue, bank some sperm beforehand.

Here’s my FIRST DRAFT for a rewrite. Again, comments and suggestions are appreciated as this is to become one of the first things that newcomers to the Eunuch Archive are likely to read.

Castration, whether chemical or surgical, results in total sterility. With chemical castration, if done for only a short while, it is usually reversible. With surgical castration, it is permanent and irreversible. This absolute and total sterility is the main reason why powerful men in antiquity chose eunuchs to guard their women.

If you have any inkling that you might possibly ever want to produce a biological child of your own, you need to bank sperm before undergoing either chemical or surgical castration.

What else needs to be in this answer? Would anyone here be willing to write a better response?

[Riverwind (imported)]

A thought,

The reasons for castration, there are many.

River

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

I would like to see the topic "Reasons Not to be Castrated" included in the FAQ. --FLO--

[sheep79 (imported)]

I would like to see the topic "Reasons Not to be Castrated" included in the FAQ. --FLO--

I agree with Uncle Flo on that one. Too many are uninformed and yes I know that the "FAQ" are for teaching. But many need to hear about the reasons not too more than once. Dave

[speedvogel (imported)]

I would like to see the topic "Reasons Not to be Castrated" included in the FAQ. --FLO--

Absolutely, this must be included as the intent of FAQ is to inform. Partial information does not allow one to make a proper decision.

Also, information regarding hormone replacement therapy, reasons for it and its effects.

Speed

[kristoff]

BUMP. We really would like this thread to get some discussion. What did you need to know when you first came here? What isn't in the FAQ that needs to be?

[Paolo]

Wayyyyy back in the day, I needed to know the side effects to health, and there wasn't much fact, on argument and speculation. I remember the great osteoporosis debate, still!

[JesusA (imported)]

Probably every item on the current list of Frequently Asked Questions should be gone over and rewritten. There are more topics that also need to be covered. I would propose that the FIRST question that anyone opening the FAQ should be confronted with is

“What is a eunuch?”

Here is my first attempt at an answer. Please feel free to make suggestions, both for this and for any of the other items that we should cover.

What is a Eunuch?

A eunuch is anyone who was born male or assigned male sex at birth whose testicles have been removed or destroyed. Most of the eunuchs alive today have been chemically castrated and still have non-functioning testicles, though many have had their testicles physically removed for some reason.

The most common reason for castration today is treatment for prostate cancer (which is testosterone dependant). About one-third of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer are castrated within six months of that diagnosis – after other treatment options have failed. It is estimated that with current rates of diagnosis and current treatment options, about 4% of all men will be castrated because of prostate cancer within their lifetimes.

There are many other, less frequent, reasons for castration, including gender dysphoria, body integrity identity disorder, orchialgia, accidents, various illnesses, and many other reasons. All of the various reasons are discussed here on the Eunuch Archive.

Any editorial suggestions?