Physical Features of a eunuch

[Moreschi (imported)]

What are the physical features of a eunuch?

[Andrew (imported)]

What are the physical features of a eunuch?

That is more or less covered in the FAQ of the EA, which I wrote with substantial input from the rest of the EA. :catclock:

[Eunuchist (imported)]

Perhaps we could assemble a list of known features for both pre and post puberty eunuchs? I'll try give it a shot, based on what I've read, observed and experienced. These estimates preclude HRT. Any suggestions are welcome aboard.

The Castrati (including perhaps those up to 16-20 years of age, depending on the state of their development)

* Smooth, paler than average skin

* Child-like/feminine fat redistribution

* In adult individuals, tendency to long armspan, long legs and hands (at times down to the knees)

* Tallness, usually much later in life due to slow growth; although many castrati were of normal or shorter stature

* Large, sometimes protruding chest

* Possible Genu Valgum (knock knees)

* Narrow shoulders as opposed to hips

* Wide hips, sometimes exceeding that of a female

* Gynecomastia - very much 50/50 happening

* Obesity - later research shows castration may either predispose or prevent obesity due it's effects on insulin metabolism and appetite. Some castrati were known of being extremely slim, almost anorectic in character.

* Even when slim most castrati had plumpy faces, especially cheecks.

* When obese, arms and legs tended to stay slim

* High, feminine voice (tends to get lower with age?)

* Abscent facial and body hairs, although fine mustache and backenbarts sometimes may develop, as well as some pubis due to adrenal activity (mostly DHEA) (as seen on a portrait of Farinelli by Bartolommeo Nazari, and some photos)

* Abscense of prominentia laryngea (Adam's apple)

* No baldness

* High eyebrows

* Infantile nose, generally somewhat 'infantile', 'immature' physical appearance overall.

Note: if a castrato takes HRT past a certain age, already acquaried skeleton features would not change.

Adult eunuchs (those past 20)

* Castration arrests any further masculinization. Done before 30-40,progressive thikening of facial and chest hairs, as well as ear and nasal hairs would not occur.

* Loss of acquaried body and facial hairs, not very noticeable most of the time, degree of loss may vary. Need for shaving may be reduced from 5-6 times a week to 2-4 times a week.

* Baldness stops/ does not occur

* In some younger eunuchs (20-30) the voice might thin out a bit, particularly due to the stimulating effects of androgens on the soft tissue of vocal chords. A loss of a few lowest notes and strenghtening of the falsetto range should be expected. At least has happened to me.

* Lesser to minimum muscle mass

* Smooth skin

* Reduced male facial features

* Child-like/feminine fat redistribution

* Possible shrinkage of male genitals

* Obesity - see above

* Generally more feminine appearance overall

Unlike some castrati, taking HRT would not make a eunuch any more different than what he was before except abscense of testes and, as sista Krister carefully suggested, a

Please feel free to discuss if there is anything else!

[JeffEunuch (imported)]

Perhaps we could assemble a list of known features for both pre and post puberty eunuchs?

Adult eunuchs (those past 20)

* Lesser to minimum muscle mass

* Smooth skin

* Reduced male facial features

* Child-like/feminine fat redistribution

* Possible shrinkage of male genitals

* Obesity - see above

* Generally more feminine appearance overall

Unlike some castrati, taking HRT would not make a eunuch any more different than what he was before except abscense of testes and, as sista Krister carefully suggested, a

Yeah, I think you may have summed it up well. However, any further masculinization may also depend on one's androgen status prior to castration. I was hypogonadic prior and had initiated testosterone supplementation with the testes still intact (one was almost dead and had atrophied prior to removal). Thus, my result is increased masculinization, primarily faster beard growth and the thickening of hair on the abdomen. Of course, my sac is now empty.

[Paolo]

Plump faces and "chicks"?

You mean cheeks?

Or did plump faces attract the chicks?!

Sorry, made me laugh...I needed that.

[Eunuchist (imported)]

Plump faces and "chicks"?

You mean cheeks?

Or did plump faces attract the chicks?!

Sorry, made me laugh...I needed that.

Arghh, those typos! But still, you may be right; castrati were adored by the chicks!

PS: I've also missed on 'abdomen'. The 'hips' were orginally on my mind.

[Eunuchist (imported)]

Yeah, I think you may have summed it up well. However, any further masculinization may also depend on one's androgen status prior to castration. I was hypogonadic prior and had initiated testosterone supplementation with the testes still intact (one was almost dead and had atrophied prior to removal). Thus, my result is increased masculinization, primarily faster beard growth and the thickening of hair on the abdomen. Of course, my sac is now empty.

You're absolutely right, Jeff. There's a huge individual discrepancy between testosterone production in males, thus the difference in speed and degree of pubertal masculinization (+ genes & race). Some of my elementary school friends had full beard at 17-18, others not before 22. However, eunuchs on a fair HRT dose report increased hair growth due to stronger effects of this synthetic hormone. Even those not hypogonadal prior to castration.

[An Onymus (imported)]

I think I've read that prepubertal eunuchs generally don't develop prominent or even noticeable eyebrow ridges--of course, not all men develop noticeable ridges, either.

[John W. (imported)]

I'm one - a prepubertal eunuchoid, now middle-aged. I sing soprano, including in a church choir, this being my natural singing and speaking voice (encompassing the standard C' - C''' soprano range plus a few notes either side), without any falsetto. In fact, my voice is exactly the same now as it was when I was 11 or 12, and I have no "Adam's apple". I have never had to shave, although I have some female-type pubic hair which may be accounted for by adrenal androgens, with no perceptible loss of scalp hair. My testicles very small and soft, clearly non-functioning.

I am not unusually tall, being about 1.72 m. tall (about 5ft 8"), although what is unusual about it is that I reached my final adult height at the age of only 12, and have not grown at all since then.

As for eyebrows and their ridges, I have, in fact, fairly prominent eyebrows and eyebrow ridges, contrary to what is stated. But I am somewhat obese, with some gynecomastia which is easily concealed, but it does not affect my arms or legs.

I read somewhere that "eunuchoid skeletal characteristics" are upper/lower body length ratio of less than 1, and total arm span more than 5 cm more than height. I am within these eunuchoid ranges by small margins.

As for sexual orientation, I find that I can get along perfectly well without sex of any sort.

As for HRT, perish the thought! Testosterone is a thoroughly evil substance, causing liver and prostate cancers among others, as well as baldness. So-called "normal" (I call them just plain "average") male secondary sexual characteristics are a terrible disfigurement. Besides, there are other things that can be taken for possible osteoporosis; a diet high in calcium and vitamin D is usually sufficient, along with reasonable exercise and sunlight exposure.

[Eunuchist (imported)]

I think I've read that prepubertal eunuchs generally don't develop prominent or even noticeable eyebrow ridges--of course, not all men develop noticeable ridges, either.

Absolutely so! There can be no doubt that androgens have an effect on eyebrows, mainly, it makes them thicker and darker, and causes expansion of the ridges. At 12 I had barely noticeable, light-brunette eyebrows. Already at 15 they darkened and became much more protruding. Men have more prominent eyebrows and they tend to get even bushier with time, sometimes becoming owl-like in old age (ref. Andy Rooney, Leonid Brezhnev etc.). However, ethnicity is another important factor. Children of nordic (http://www.algonet.se/~ggidrott/bilder/2boys.jpg) ethnicity have less dense eyebrows than mediterranean and arabic (http://www.jerusalem.anglican.org/image ... b03.15.jpg) children. Thus it may explain why some of the Italian castrati appeared to have prominent eyebrows, as this was also the case with women of similar ethnicity. The eyebrows, though dark and dense, were still relatively high and narrow.