Question about castration - already on HRT

[SmTBalls (imported)]

I've read several posts here that generally touch on this topic, but didn't see any that specifically address it.

About me: I'm married and have been married to the same woman for like 26 years. No kids and we don't want any. I'm already on exogenous testosterone and have been for around 4 years. I was diagnosed with low T many years ago, prescribed HCG which brought it up a little but not enough, and then switched to injectable testosterone cypionate. Over the years my testicles have shrunk quite a bit (they were probably average before). Prior to starting exogenous testosterone I could see sperm in my semen on my crummy home microscope. At this point I can't see any, but as I said, it's a crummy microscope.

My goal is simply to be sterile. I don't want to lower my libido or anything like that. I plan to get a sperm count done to see (officially) where I am now, and if my count is actually zero, then there's really no issue. I'd have at least a couple more counts done, one at the end of my dose period (right before an injection), etc. - just to be sure it doesn't fluctuate.

Assuming I'm not completely sterile, I don't think a vasectomy is the right answer for me. The incidence rate of long term complications from vasectomy are higher than I expected. I have sort of an over-reactive immune system anyway (I have mild psoraisis) and so I feel the likelihood of my body being unhappy with sperm being where they shouldn't be is probably higher than your average guy. Also there is now one study that has correlated vasectomy to dementia in later years. The theory is that the blood/testes barrier is broken by the vasectomy and the sperm and the antibodies produced to combat them can act systemically and affect the brain. It was only a single study and only one very specific form of dementia, but my father has early onset Alzheimer's and my paternal grandmother has dementia so I don't need any extra dementia risk. Also the risk of granuloma, long term pain, etc., etc. Bottom line is I don't need my testes anymore as I get all my testosterone externally and I don't want any sperm. For me it seems a vasectomy is a lot of risk to preserve a couple of organs I don't need anyway. They are just a cancer risk and a source of potential pain, so what's the point?

Some friends have said why not do the vasectomy and then go the castration route if I have problems from the vasectomy. If it weren't for the dementia angle that might make sense. I'm already at a higher risk of dementia due to family history and I wouldn't know if the vasectomy worked against me until the damage was done. Of course even then I wouldn't know the vasectomy had anything to do with it, but I'd wonder, and why take the risk?

If I had my testis removed I would most likely not go with prosthesis due to the potential for immune system complications.

OK, so that's "about me", why I'm considering it, and how I plan to live (castrated + T injections).

My questions are directed at those of you who have been castrated but use a regular dose of testosterone to keep everything working -- basically you are already living as I would intend to live. Please answer any that you want to share your experience with. I'm numbering them to make referencing them easy.

Do you sense any difference in the quality or intensity of orgasm - ease or difficulty of reaching orgasm, etc.?

What change, if any, did you notice in your ejaculate (volume, appearance, whatever)? I would assume it shouldn't be any different than a vasectomy as long as you're still getting plenty of testosterone, but some people report marked changes even with a vasectomy (though that shouldn't really be the case).

Other than being a little different down there, is there anything about the condition of being castrated and taking exogenous testerone that you don't like? You can exclude any issues with the testosterone treatment itself because I'm quite comfortable injecting myself weekly, have been doing it for years, and have no issues with it.

Anything else you think I should know or consider?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[eunuched (imported)]

I would go with a vasectomy unless your T level is at or almost castrate level. I can only say for myself but I believe there is a difference in the intensity of orgasm. I had a vasectomy so there really is no difference in volume, ect. Seems to me that if your goal is to be sterile, being castrated is a little overkill. Maybe you have some other reasons besides just becoming sterile.

[Wellesley (imported)]

So you have no issue with the T injections. That is the major (literal) pain in the ass I think.

I think as long as you have a steady supply you are good. When I travel outside of my home country I have issues if I go longer than 10 days as many of the countries I visit have tough anti-drug laws so carrying syringes and needles is a risk.

Empty scrotum in the summer it becomes an issue I think. I had mine reduced.

[AtomicMush (imported)]

Hi...

I lost my boys to what appeared to be cancer after I had a vasectomy (20 years earlier) where the sperm instead of being reabsorbed, created a mass that turned tumorous. I lost mine over two years ago, and celebrate the anniversary of the great removal. To answer your questions:

1- I do sense a difference. I am on Testopel pellets, not on injections. My T ranges from about 800 just after implant to around 260, when new pellets are inserted (every 4 months) under the skin in my butt area. My penis has gotten thicker, and I have been able to resume great sex, with everything working quite well. Very satisfied in this department.

2- My ejaculate is now very clear and oily, and the volume is considerably smaller. I did have a prostrate biopsy, and that also seems to have effected the ejaculate.

3- I love the fact that the boys are gone. I hate that the empty sack is still there. It is uncomfortable and gets in the way. I am considering having it removed when I can afford it. Meanwhile, I learned womens bikni suit bottoms a size too small are perfect for holding everything tucked away, and are colorful. I find them at Wally Mart and Target for less than $10/pair, and last forever.

4- Yeah... You decide to get the boys removed, DON'T do it yourself/ I had mine taken by a Urologist, and even then, there were complications (abscess and hematoma) and extreme discomfort. It took me 3 surgeries to get them all gone. Look back at my earlier posts for that story.

Good luck. You are not alone out there.

g

[daifu-orchid (imported)]

I'm surgically nutless and on injected T.

With regular T levels, everything works fine. I like being able to stop/change the T as I want.

I enjoy being a eunuch, but if I just needed sterility only, maybe I'd consider vasectomy?

[_g (imported)]

If your on exogenous testosterone for four years already, your testicles already have atrophied so having them removed will not change anything but having an empty sack.

_g

[SmTBalls (imported)]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to answer all questions and respond to all comments.

I would go with a vasectomy unless your T level is at or almost castrate level. I can only say for myself but I believe there is a difference in the intensity of orgasm. I had a vasectomy so there really is no difference in volume, ect. Seems to me that if your goal is to be sterile, being castrated is a little overkill. Maybe you have some other reasons besides just becoming sterile.

My T level is usually on the high side as that's where I'm happiest. I am prescribed at 1.2 ml/wk of 200mg/ml Testosterone Cypionate. I know that is a good bit higher than most, but I've been at that dose for many years now. I don't always inject right at a week - sometimes I go longer, but not too much longer.

As far as other reasons to do castration instead of vasectomy - not that I can think of. I pretty much laid them all out. If it weren't for the dementia issue then I think it would be most reasonable to do vasectomy first and only have them removed if there were issues from that surgery. Even though it was only a single study that found a dementia link (to vasectomy), any chance of it is more than I'd rather take since I don't need the balls for anything. I've read a lot of PVPS (post vasectomy pain syndrome) horror stories and it seems like if you go that route and have troubles it was a lot of unnecessary headaches just to need a second surgery.

I haven't read any orchiectomy horror stories (at least for ones done by a surgeon), but that may just be because it's not as common of a procedure as vasectomy is.

[SmTBalls (imported)]

So you have no issue with the T injections. That is the major (literal) pain in the ass I think.

I think as long as you have a steady supply you are good. When I travel outside of my home country I have issues if I go longer than 10 days as many of the countries I visit have tough anti-drug laws so carrying syringes and needles is a risk.

Empty scrotum in the summer it becomes an issue I think. I had mine reduced.

I do my injections in the ventrogluteal (http://vimeo.com/73862611) muscle and it is absolutely the best. Oddly it seems most doctors and nurses don't use this area - probably because it is less convenient than the butt. There isn't much of a blood supply there and not too many nerves, and you don't use the muscle for anything (or I don't seem to anyway) so even if it were sore for some reason it doesn't get aggravated due to use. Many times I don't even feel the needle go in. I used to have my wife inject me in the deltoid but she hit a nerve once (not her fault, she was in the right place) and that was the last deltoid injection.

I don't travel to other countries. I've only been out of the U.S. once (to Canada) and don't see travel-related issues being a problem for me. When flying within the U.S. I've never had a problem.

You're not the only person to mention the empty scrotum problem and I'm glad y'all did because I hadn't thought of it. My scrotum is pretty tight anyway, so I'm wondering if this would be an issue for me. I've never really had low hanging balls, and since they are a lot smaller now, even less so.

What kind of problems did you have with your scrotum? Just getting sweaty and chafed? Problems with yeast infections in the folds? Personal question, but were you somewhat "low hanging" before? I kind of had it in my head that, with as tight as it is already, my scrotum would just kind of tighten up more and not be an issue. Something to consider.

[smoothie36 (imported)]

Keep checking your sperm level. Use some form of birth control until you no longer need it.

[SmTBalls (imported)]

I lost my boys to what appeared to be cancer after I had a vasectomy (20 years earlier) where the sperm instead of being reabsorbed, created a mass that turned tumorous. I lost mine over two years ago, and celebrate the anniversary of the great removal.

Sounds like maybe your problem started as a granuloma after your vasectomy? As I said in my OP, my immune system tends to freak out pretty easy. I suspect that a vasectomy (no matter what technique the use) is going to end up being an issue for me. Yeah, sperm are your own cells, but apparently our bodies just don't expect them to wander much.

To answer your questions:

1- I do sense a difference. I am on Testopel pellets, not on injections. My T ranges from about 800 just after implant to around 260, when new pellets are inserted (every 4 months) under the skin in my butt area. My penis has gotten thicker, and I have been able to resume great sex, with everything working quite well. Very satisfied in this department.

2

60 isn't much higher than what I was when I was originally diagnosed. I was in the low 200 something - but I don't remember the exact number. I'm pretty sure if I made it down to 260 I'd be impotent and suicidal until my levels were brought up. You said you sense a difference in your orgasm. Is it ease/difficulty or just the composition changes you mentioned below? Since my testis shouldn't be doing much of anything after this many years on HRT I don't expect much should change after vasectomy or orchiectomy, but it sounds like you had vasectomy first and are still saying something changed once you had an orchiectomy.

2- My ejaculate is now very clear and oily, and the volume is considerably smaller. I did have a prostrate biopsy, and that also seems to have effected the ejaculate.

This touches on one thing I had read about but figured maybe the person was not on HRT. It had to do with soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan that had lost their testicles due to field injuries. One report said he had a very difficult time ejaculating and it was clear when he did. This confused me (unless perhaps he's not on HRT for some reason). Supposedly your testis produce 5% or less of your ejaculate volume and the majority is produced elsewhere.

From one site:

65 per cent of the fluid is produced by the seminal vesicles

30 to 35 per cent by the prostate

5 per cent from the testicles and epididymes

You indicated that perhaps you had some damage to your prostate - I wonder if anything else was affected. I'm very interested in whether or not any other folks that are in this situation (no testicles but on a normal dose of testosterone) and have this "clear ejaculate" issue.

3- I love the fact that the boys are gone. I hate that the empty sack is still there. It is uncomfortable and gets in the way. I am considering having it removed when I can afford it. Meanwhile, I learned womens bikni suit bottoms a size too small are perfect for holding everything tucked away, and are colorful. I find them at Wally Mart and Target for less than $10/pair, and last forever.

You are the 2nd person to report the empty sack being an issue. As I said above, since mine is kind of tight anyway I didn't really even consider such a problem. Was yours quite loose before? I've seen pictures of guys with REALLY low hanging balls, almost like they are made of lead and stretching the sack. That is definitely not the case with me. If I get really hot it may relax but normally the whole package (sack and testicles) is about the size of a racquetball.

4- Yeah... You decide to get the boys removed, DON'T do it yourself/ I had mine taken by a Urologist, and even then, there were complications (abscess and hematoma) and extreme discomfort. It took me 3 surgeries to get them all gone. Look back at my earlier posts for that story.

Oh, definitely not. There's no point. If I decided to do this I'd convince my doctor and get a referral. If that weren't possible for some reason, there is a gender reassignment surgeon in Tampa that will supposedly do it even for "male to eunuch" so long as you have a sanity letter from a shrink. Although technically I'd be a eunuch afterward, I wouldn't really think of it that way since I would continue to be on HRT as I am today, with normal libido and sex life, etc. I don't think there is anything crazy about my reasoning, so I'm sure I could go that route if I wanted to pay for the whole thing out of pocket.

Good luck. You are not alone out there.

Thanks!