What do psychiatrists say?

[Kangan (imported)]

Thank you Beau Geste for an interesting and very informative summary.

I do not have any gender dysphoria or even genital dysphoria. I do have a problem with a libido that is not satisfied with normal sex (marital relations) or a normal frequency. Sex is always on my mind and not just sex with my wife.

Some 30 years ago, things got out of hand to the point where I got into serious difficulties with the legal system. No, I didn't go to jail, but it was a very narrow escape. That was when I first wanted to be castrated, but there was no way to legally get one despite my situation. I did go to various shrinks and found out that I had a sexual addiction. It took a while, but I did manage to learn how to divert my impulses to less dangerous areas of sexual activity.

Then I had a relapse. The parallel to alcoholism is very striking. No legal problems resulted, but I manage to screw up a friendship. This was when I tried banding, but gave up due to the resulting pain.

Much time passed, and here I am today. Once again my overactive libido has messed up several friendships and caused marital unrest. So you can see that gender dysphoria has nothing to do with it at all.

I've had enough counselling and psychological testing to know that I am sane. Basically the testosterone causes me to lose impulse control. I am getting tired of fighting for control and I don't want another relapse.

I'd be on the next airplane to Philadelphia except for the logistics of recovery in a strange hotel in a strange city.

[kristoff]

Thank you Beau Geste for an interesting and very informative summary.

I do not have any gender dysphoria or even genital dysphoria. I do have a problem with a libido that is not satisfied with normal sex (marital relations) or a normal frequency. Sex is always on my mind and not just sex with my wife.

Some 30 years ago, things got out of hand to the point where I got into serious difficulties with the legal system. No, I didn't go to jail, but it was a very narrow escape. That was when I first wanted to be castrated, but there was no way to legally get one despite my situation. I did go to various shrinks and found out that I had a sexual addiction. It took a while, but I did manage to learn how to divert my impulses to less dangerous areas of sexual activity.

Then I had a relapse. The parallel to alcoholism is very striking. No legal problems resulted, but I manage to screw up a friendship. This was when I tried banding, but gave up due to the resulting pain.

Much time passed, and here I am today. Once again my overactive libido has messed up several friendships and caused marital unrest. So you can see that gender dysphoria has nothing to do with it at all.

I've had enough counselling and psychological testing to know that I am sane. Basically the testosterone causes me to lose impulse control. I am getting tired of fighting for control and I don't want another relapse.

I'd be on the next airplane to Philadelphia except for the logistics of recovery in a strange hotel in a strange city.

I suspect that you give too much weight to issues of logistics, recovery, and the mount of issues to transcend. With a successful surgery, you will be on your feet in 1 or 2 days, and 90% recovered in 1 week. Many folks who make the 'pilgrimage' to Philadelphia are flying / driving home in 1 or 2 days. The comfort and safety of home is not always something we may rely upon - take it from a home-body who hates not having his cocoon of safety surrounding him. Go with a friend or spouse, enjoy a few days off, and be done with what needs or wants be done.....

[Kangan (imported)]

Actually it is the possibility of a complication occurring that worries me the most. I'd drive there but it would take me over 14 hours. Flying is expensive and then local transportation becomes a problem too.

I'd like to be in and out the same day or one overnight, but I don't think that is realistic. I really want this done locally.

I wish my wife could go with me, but we have animals to take care of and no one to help, so it would most likely be a solo trip... if I go there at all.

[JeffEunuch (imported)]

Thank you Beau Geste for an interesting and very informative summary. I do not have any gender dysphoria or even genital dysphoria. I do have a problem with a libido that is not satisfied with normal sex (marital relations) or a normal frequency. Sex is always on my mind and not just sex with my wife...... I'd be on the next airplane to Philadelphia except for the logistics of recovery in a strange hotel in a strange city.

You should perhaps talk to the good doctor about recovery. I agree that you may discover it's easier than you think. While I think I'm less prone to suffering than a lot o' people and also seem to heal rapidly, I was up and about a lot more quickly than I feared. And those who've previously read my story will knowthat one of my issues with testicles was that they were very tight and had very short cords. The implication of this for removal is that tying the cords off through scrotal incisions required a lot more effort and perhaps bruising than it might with others. In any event, I was quite sore following the procedure. I took 1 pain killer and fell asleep for a few hours - hadn't slept too well the previous night in anticipation of the procedure. However, I was feeling much better and hungry and was walking to and from a restaurant a few blocks away by late afternoon. There was some discomfort in the crotch, but not severe or really painful. I drove 240 km to home the following afternoon and, though still experiencing a bit o' discomfort, went to work the following day. I usually commute by cycle (25 km return), but gave myself a break the first week and used the vehicle that usually rests comfortably in my drive. The bruising disappeared midway in that first week. Everything was totally healed and the incisions barely observable even with close inspection in 3 weeks. While I don't recommend such an early return to normal activities to others, I was quite surprised by how rapid recovery was. Fear of pain or extended recovery is not a good reason not to proceed. There are of course other legitimate reasons for not undergoing voluntary castration. Just go for it if you think it's the right thing for you.

I'd find someone to care for the animals and take your wife.

[Kangan (imported)]

Yes, it is the recovery part that concerns me, as I will be in a strange city in a strange hotel some 14 hours by car from my home.

I also have tight balls and a short foreskin and scrotum. Perhaps the inguinal approach might be better after all. I do need to talk to Dr. Kimmel and see what he thinks. I wish I could just drop in for a preliminary exam without having to travel all that distance....

[big (imported)]

I talked with my psychiatrist about going on Depo and she was against it due to the changes in body chemistry that it causes. She has however been pushing for me to switch to Depakote which blocks testosterone production and causes testicular atrophy.

Go Figure!

[Riverwind (imported)]

Back to your Title, "What do psychiatrists say?"

Who Cares there most likely wrong anyway.

I think you will find that most of us knew we needed castration from a very early age, for me it was about 7. This starts a life time of self abuse and finally castration. Sense my castration 5 years ago this Sept. I have finally been free, free and complete for the first time in my life.

River

[kristoff]

I talked with my psychiatrist about going on Depo and she was against it due to the changes in body chemistry that it causes. She has however been pushing for me to switch to Depakote which blocks testosterone production and causes testicular atrophy.

Go Figure!

She is incorrect with regard to Depa-Kote. It does not interfere with testosterone, nor does it generally have sexual side effects. I used it for several years. Generally. it is very useful and effective as an anti-siezure medicine, as well as an anti-manic (for which psychiatrists usually prescribe it). It's principal side-effect is reduction of metabolic rates with a resultant increase in body weight, as well as a corresponding increase in appetite. Most people using this drug who are not exceptional attendant to their diet will pack it on quick.

[tomsaltsman (imported)]

We have to realize that psychiatrists are just as acclimated by cultural prejudices as much as anyone else. They are not always immune from such bias. They also take sides in political debates. And voluntary castration is a political debate, to be sure.

In general, I have found Mexicans to be much more excepting of castration than any other group on this side of the planet. But not all Mexicans, of course. Your guess is as good as mine as to the reason why.

Fortunately for me, both my social worker and my psychiatrist are Mexican and both are totally supportive of my decision to become a eunuch. Both of them think that those who oppose me are just plain "stupid." My shrink even calls urologists who won't do it "chicken."

But my case may be different because I am HIV+. Nonetheless, I have talked to many people about my decision to become a eunuch and I would say about two thirds of those I speak with think castration should be just as available to men as abortions are to teenage girls. "It's YOUR body," many of them say quite bluntly.

INTERESTING NOTE: It is quite common to find Eastern Christians in the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches who think Catholic priests are a bunch of hypocrites because they aren't truly celibate. A very conservative Russian Orthodox woman once said to me, "They're all a pack of hypocrites! But if they went ahead and had a certain operation. . . that would prove to me that they were indeed sincere."

Eunuchs were much more common and much more respected in Byzantine Christianity than in the West where eunuchs were seen as demeaned slaves. Society needs to face it: WE WILL NEVER GO AWAY!

[tomsaltsman (imported)]

Sorry. I meant to say, "accepting" not "excepting."