Does Lack of Testosterone Cause Personality Changes?

[kristoff]

I received this by email. It is from "Iwantnoballs." An interesting proposition and question posed.

K

Hi, can I ask that someone post this in the "chemical castration" message board with a title... "Do other people notice?" My ONLY way of posting is through a 'smart' phone and for some reason it won't let me submit a new thread. If you can't, no big deal. Thanks. P.s., it gave me the message: 'fatal error'... also, I have been able to reply to an existing thread.

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> Here is the message:

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> Hi, I am new here. Recently I have decided that I am going to chemically castrate myself using depo provera (on its way) and was wondering if anyone can share thoughts or experiences on how altering your hormone levels may be perceived by unsuspecting individuals who otherwise are very familiar with your personality at normal hormone levels. Not that I care what others think about me... cuz they all talk shit about me anyway , but I cant help but feel that this may be a game changer. For example, in a professional environment people may be used to your current level of testosterone, and you may have been placed in a specific role due to let's say your ability to multitask in a fairly demanding environment... and let's say your testosterone is what is giving you that edge or 'ability to perform' so well. I just have it in my mind that lowering one' T levels may alter such abilities to a disadvantage. Can anyone share any thoughts or stories or shed some insight? Does anyone have any horrible experiences dealing with things of this nature, or positive ones? I really need help with this one.

[transward (imported)]

My experience is with cross sexual hormone transition, either M2F or F2M, rather than M2E, but I suspect people's reactions are similar. The vast majority of people are hugely oblivious of what is going on around them. A large portion of the population wouldn't notice if a nude Lady Godiva rode a unicorn down Main Street at high noon. Unless you go to some effort to change your behavior or dress or your voice changes people are unlikely to notice anything. And if you don't want to confide it is easy to deflect any questions with an excuse about having trouble sleeping or giving up coffee or having a new relationship. Give most people a plausible explanation and they won't see anything. Particularly if they watched you change daily.

This clearly doesn't always apply to people who are intimate with you.

Transward

[tr_80504 (imported)]

For me I would have to say no real change (once a asshole always a asshole). I have family I interact with weekly and family that that is far less frequent. The same goes for friends and coworkers. I will say that there has been a noticeable slow down in productivity at work. I work piece work and I have to work much harder and somewhat longer than before castration. I also started taking estrogen as I was very unhappy with the way T in any amount effected me.

[Caith721 (imported)]

Other than breast growth because I'm also taking estrogen, nobody at work or in my neighborhood has noticed or said anything to me in over two years. I agree with Transward, the majority of people are far too self-absorbed and generally ignorant of everything going on around them. Something as subtle as lowered Testosterone levels would never get so much as a second glance. Good luck with your D-P treatment!

[unencumbered (imported)]

My barber once mentioned to me about a year ago that it was strange but the natural growth pattern of my hair was different. I didn't ask her in what way but I assumed that it was a result of my low testosterone.

[evenealy (imported)]

I have been chemically castrated for most of my life and nobody ever suspected anything. Since my Orchi a couple of weeks ago people close to me have noticed changes. I’m less productive at work, just a little slower. And my colleagues have stated that I’m much more quiet. However the common laymen knows nothing of my castration. Good luck - Eve

[Caith721 (imported)]

I'm scheduling an orchiectomy in the next week or two, after being chemically castrated for over two years. The first year was using spironolactone and low levels (1mg, 2mg) of estrogen. The second year was much better, switching from spiro to cyproterone acetate (Androcur, Siterone) and raising estrogen intake to 8mg.

Eve, I'm encouraged to hear you experienced changes resulting from physical castration, even after being chemically castrated. That's exactly the effect I"m wanting.

[unencumbered (imported)]

I went though a period of depression and lack of motivation last year that others close to me said that they noticed a change in my personality but I've been able to overcome much of it and I haven't had any other comments since then.

[tugon (imported)]

I would not say my personality has changed but aspects of it has been dialed up or dialed down. Sex drive has been dialed down and need for affection dialed up. I used to enjoy saying outrageous things and watching others reactions. Now I will be more considerate of others before I say anything shocking. I would much rather watch an emotional movie than an action film. Emotions have been dialed up and I like art, movies and music that further stimulate those greater emotions.

The only comments I have ever received are about my being at peace. Another comment is that I am perceived as being comfortable in my own skin. Again not major changes in personality but tweaking what was already there inside.

I recently had a child approach me and asked if I was a boy or a girl. I wanted to say I was not sure. Of course I knew that would create questions for the parents.

I wish I had kept a diary after castration but for my friends who have known me before and after not much is ever said.

[JesusA (imported)]

Two years ago Prof. Richard Wassersug published an article that touches on some of the issues of eunuch personality (while comparing it to that of angels in the Torah/Old Testament). The article covers much more than personality, though it has some very interesting points on that subject. He has asked that it not be published in its entirety on the Eunuch Archive, though he will send PDF copies to anyone who requests one.

His email address at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia is

Tadpole-at-dal-dot-ca

Below is the title and abstract of the article:

Passing Through the Wall: On Outings, Exodus, Angels, and the Ark

Abstract: Classicists have argued that angels in Christian theology were modeled on the eunuchs of antiquity; with angels providing the same services to the Lord in Heaven that eunuchs provided to emperors on Earth. I apply this idea toward understanding the cherubim on the ark in Exodus 25 and the death of Aaron’s sons in Leviticus 10. I also suggest that the angel-eunuch analogy can help us understand the psychological impact of androgen deprivation therapy on modern prostate cancer patients. Appreciating this analogy can help prostate cancer patients accept and adapt to the changes they experience.

Journal of Religion and History, vol. 48 (2009), pp. 381-390.

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Richard and I (together with a couple of his graduate students who are doing the data sorting and analysis) are currently working on an article based on the Eunuch Archive survey that many readers here completed. Buried within that survey was the complete set of questions for one of the most frequently used personality tests. Since those taking the survey were allowed to skip any question they wished, it took a great deal of manual sorting to pull out only those surveys where every single question on the personality inventory was answered. We ended up with 2,178 complete Big Five Personality Inventories to analyze (of the 3,086 surveys that were taken).

Analysis and writing is still underway, though I can tell you that there are some very interesting (and positive) personality shifts with the drop in testosterone. They help to validate the esteem with which eunuchs were held in government administration and as negotiators. Stay tuned. We will make copies of the article available as soon as possible.

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