Does the penis atrophe after castration?

[Andrew (imported)]

I went to Dr. Spector for my castration more than 2 years ago. As far as I can tell, mine has not shrunk yet, though like Andrew I didn't bother to measure mine prior to castration.

Some of you mention the lack of erections causing shrinkage. Though my libido is way down, and I like having almost no sex drive, I still have occasional nighttime erections, so maybe that's why I have not noticed any shrinkage. This is really unfortunate for me, because I am uncomfortable with my penis and wish it did shrink:( . I guess I will have to take more direct action to lose it (either SRS or penectomy).

Now interestingly I started taking low dose estrogen (1 mg Estrace) two months ago, and I don't recall any nighttime erections lately, so maybe this will put a stop to them. But recently I did have an orgasm when I seemed to be half awake, yet my penis was not erect when it happened.

Just a bit of curiosity on my part. I was under the impression that you wanted as much of the scrotum and penis as possible to be avaialable for the final SRS

[Andrew (imported)]

I sent an e-mail to Dr. Spector asking for what information he had concerning shrinkage of the penis. Here is his reply...

Dear Harry:

First, penile shrinkage is a part of the castration effect--there is little interest and activity in sex afterwards, so one can think of atrophy of disuse. There would be little concern--even satisfaction--on the part of such ex-patients, usually considering this as part of the desired process. So those to whom this is of concern are left with a greater sexual effect, not the usual but it happens. Then there is the matter of diminished testosterone level, which could likewise have an effect of penile shrinkage. But I haven't been made aware that this has been an important problem. In fact, many patients sit to urinate, whether before or afterward.

[pee-pee (imported)]

I thought I read somewhere that if you were to be an eunuch,

you had to take special medecine or your dick would shrivel up.

Any truth to this?

god i hope so that is all i've ever wanted is a pee-pee that doesnt work. thanks

[Sherry (imported)]

Just a bit of curiosity on my part. I was under the impression that you wanted as much of the scrotum and penis as possible to be avaialable for the final SRS

True, but OTOH until I do get surgery I have to live with the parts that remain, and I fear that could be quite a while. Given my progress on facial electrolysis to date, and that I started feminizing HRT recently, I hope to do the workplace transition (or rather, find a new workplace to transition into) hopefully sometime in 2003. But after that, I have no idea how I will fund SRS since I will likely have increased living expenses, plus maintaining HRT and a hair replacement system, and a possible decrease in income. At this time at least, I can't predict what year I would get the surgery.

It would have been nice if the remaining parts had shrunk in the meantime. Many TSs experience shrinkage of the parts while on HRT anyway, whether or not castrated, so SRS surgeons are used to working with shrunken parts.

[Pippa (imported)]

Sherry, I have to agree that most surgeons that perform SRS ops are used to using the skin from shrunken parts, however.....

Remember that the quantity of SKIN that is available determines the size of the vagina. I would suggest that stretching the penile and scrotal skin on a regular (daily) basis is a good idea..... You will note that I am not suggesting that getting an erection is important , it is not... but to keep the size of the skin is in your best interests if you are heading for gender reassignment surgery.

[Charlieje (imported)]

I am always amazed at the variety of responses to questions regarding effects of castration. I think the only conclusion one can draw from all these variations is that it depends on the individual.

Just to add to the confusion here is my experience:

I was castrated in April 1997. Just to confuse the issue even further I took HRT for about a year, stopping again last August. I believe my penis has shrunk some and my empty scrotum definitely has, but as to how much it is very difficult to say. I still get erections, but not very often. My penis always was rather small when not erect, so it gives the illusion of having shrunk a great deal, but it is as much illusion as fact. Nevertheless when it is REALLY shrunken, it can get as small as 1" or so.

I have never had a problem using urinals, but frankly I usually prefer to sit to pee when I'm home anyway, so that is a non-issue for me.

I still have lots and lots of sexual thoughts, but these thoughts do not result in the urgent need for relief they used to. I can't even remember the last time I had an orgasm, and it is no longer important to me. :p