Is it really true that we need hormones?

[Sileta11 (imported)]

I have no testicles and all the doctors tell me that they do not recommend me to be without hormones, but they don't fit me well.

My Doubt is:

1- Why did the "castrati" live more than 70 years without hormones?

2- Why did some of the Eunuchs of the past live to be over 100 years old?

I've been on hormones for a week and I don't want to go back What do you think? Are the health problems from not taking hormones real?

[fhunter]

I have no testicles and all the doctors tell me that they do not recommend me to be without hormones, but they don't fit me well.

My Doubt is:

1- Why did the "castrati" live more than 70 years without hormones?

2- Why did some of the Eunuchs of the past live to be over 100 years old?

I've been on hormones for a week and I don't want to go back What do you think? Are the health problems from not taking hormones real?

First - most of the castrati were castrated before puberty, which seriously affects the outcome re: hormones and requirements for them. Our Jesus had posted, somewhere on the forum some account about relatively modern prepubertal eunuchs and hormones, I think (but I do not remember it exactly).

Second - there are herbal estrogen sources, which were actually known at the time, and that could be used.

Main health problems - bone health (osteoporosis IS real).

[JesusA (imported)]

There is finally a well-controlled medical study on the bone-protection use of estrogen for castrated men. The study divided a group of men on chemical castration for prostate cancer into two groups: one receiving a placebo and the other receiving 0.9 mg of 0.1% estradiol gel daily. There was significant bone-protection for those on estradiol. Osteoporosis is the most serious side effect of castration. Low dose estrogen may be the best protective course of action.

_______

Russell, Nicholas et al. (2022). Effects of estradiol on bone in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. European Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 187, Issue 2, Aug 2022, Pages 241–256, https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-22-0227

[WheelyCurious]

I have no testicles and all the doctors tell me that they do not recommend me to be without hormones, but they don't fit me well.

My Doubt is:

1- Why did the "castrati" live more than 70 years without hormones?

2- Why did some of the Eunuchs of the past live to be over 100 years old?

I've been on hormones for a week and I don't want to go back What do you think? Are the health problems from not taking hormones real?

It is worth noting that bone health is one of the big problems, but that load bearing exercise is somewhat preventative.

Back in the "not so good old days" when we didn't have all the comforts and technology of modern life, it took a LOT of exercise just to do the typical activities of daily living... A lot of the historical eunuchs were slaves which meant they got an extra heavy dose of the labor duties...

In addition, while there were definitely issues with the diet in a lot of history, one can make a case that historical food was probably healthier overall - there was no 'fast food', no 'junk food' and what there was to eat was minimally processed, natural, etc. Not to mention 100% "Organic".....

In the non-fiction article area there is at least one reference to an archeological dig that found the graves of some of the historical Chinese eunuchs, and they showed definite signs of severe osteoporosis, specifically the kyphosis (sp?) or hunch back we often see today in very elderly women.

What sort of hormones does the doctor have you on? A lot of the time they want to give us replacement testosterone, which seems to me a questionable choice since a lot of us wanted to get in order to get rid of it... Using Estrogen instead provides the same health benefits, without the issues of T, but has some arguably undesirable side effects like boob growth...

There are also "selective estrogen replacement modifiers" or SERM's that are supposed to provide the estrogen health benefits, without the boob growth, but they supposedly have an increased risk of blood clots....

Ideally you should be dealing with a doctor that has both endocrinology chops, and experience in working with TG patients for any hormone related stuff. You need to have a discussion about what you desire in results, with a specific objective of finding the right regimen that will provide the needed health protection while giving you the emotional results that you want.

WheelyCurious

[grapesoda19 (imported)]

There is finally a well-controlled medical study on the bone-protection use of estrogen for castrated men. The study divided a group of men on chemical castration for prostate cancer into two groups: one receiving a placebo and the other receiving 0.9 mg of 0.1% estradiol gel daily. There was significant bone-protection for those on estradiol. Osteoporosis is the most serious side effect of castration. Low dose estrogen may be the best protective course of action.

A (potentially dumb) question: Can someone take both T and E? Cause my plans are, after my nullification, to continue on the same level of Testosterone that I'm at now. As of last Friday (when I had my cholesterol bloodwork), my T was at 612ng/dL and my E was 34.7pg/mL. T was dead center perfect, E is mid-range high, but still within the normal range.

So, could I be on 600ng/dL of T and 25pg/mL of E and not have to worry about any bone or boob issues (I got enough problems with the latter due to gynecomastia, which I plan on dealing with)?

[Sileta11 (imported)]

Thank you very much for the answers.

I have used estrogen (in society they think I am a girl).

The only thing I don't like about not having testicles is hormone therapy.

I had a bone density test 2 years ago and it came out fine, but I don't know now...

Estrogen hormone therapy has many side effects.

[Hash (imported)]

The danger of not using hormones is depression and osteoporosis. Men (castrati) who were castrated at a young age did not have the "harmful" testosterone effects to change them physically and mentally, they were more like women and women typically live longer. Same with some eunuchs living over 100 years old.

[Bullseye (imported)]

I was born with no balls. I was started on HRT when I was 13, which is when I learned I didn't have balls. A little background in a nutshell no details. I am an orphan. I was raised in foster homes, one of which was ok. The last one was not good. Some bad things happened, and I ran away. About 2 weeks maybe 3, don't remember. after I turned 14, I put everything I owned in a backpack and about 3 in the morning I snuck out. So, I have been on my own since I was 14. And of course, at that point the HRT

ceased and I have not had any since. I don't have depression. I have never gained any weight and I am happy. My life is good. Osteoporosis I know is a threat. My bone density now is fine. I exercise, don't smoke, don't drink, eat healthy and get a good

amount of calcium and vitamin D. I have to watch BMD and do DXA test at least yearly. As far as life span, I don't think I want to be 100. I'm not sure how valid that is. I have also read that eunuchs never go bald or grey. I don't think I believe that either.

[Valery_V (imported)]

I was born with no balls. I was started on HRT when I was 13, which is when I learned I didn't have balls. A little background in a nutshell no details. I am an orphan. I was raised in foster homes, one of which was ok. The last one was not good. Some bad things happened, and I ran away. About 2 weeks maybe 3, don't remember. after I turned 14, I put everything I owned in a backpack and about 3 in the morning I snuck out. So, I have been on my own since I was 14. And of course, at that point the HRT

ceased and I have not had any since. I don't have depression. I have never gained any weight and I am happy. My life is good. Osteoporosis I know is a threat. My bone density now is fine. I exercise, don't smoke, don't drink, eat healthy and get a good

amount of calcium and vitamin D. I have to watch BMD and do DXA test at least yearly. As far as life span, I don't think I want to be 100. I'm not sure how valid that is. I have also read that eunuchs never go bald or grey. I don't think I believe that either.

I can repeat some of your statements in relation to myself:

"

I don't have depression. I have never gained any weight and I am happy. My life is good. I exercise, don't smoke, don't drink, eat healthy and get a good amount of calcium and vitamin D.

"

But I must add that it is desirable for a healthy organism to have its own hormones, which are produced by itself.

By the way, I'm not going bald, but I'm graying and sometimes I ask the hairdresser to dye my hair .

[Sileta11 (imported)]

Can taking vitamins of calcium and vitamin D be a substitute for hormones?