Effects of low Testosterone levels

[Francis (imported)]

I have been researching various websites re low testosterone as part of my interest in castration and possible actions I may take to reduce it to 0. I have run accross the following website that I found pretty comprehensive, informative but not too detailed and wanted to share it with you all here. I am sure that others have done the same so I thought a thread compiling the collective wisdom of the members in this area would attract some interest. Here is my starter web site to get the ball rolling

http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_deta ... _cat=0#top Hope it works OK and look forward to others contributions to this area

[devi (imported)]

For now I am just going to say that I absolutely do not agree at all with some of those assessments made on that medem website and that it is simply another one of those psychiatric-pharmaceutical pitches saying, "If you are not what we determine to be normal then boy do we have the drugs for you and we recommend you start taking something for your worthless defective existence immediately so you can be normal. And you DO want to be normal don't you? Everyone else wants you to be".

[mrt (imported)]

I think researching what will happen if you do get snipped is an excellent idea.

Here is my take on that report point by point.

"Physical Symptoms Related to Low Testosterone

Signs of low testosterone in men may include decreased sex drive, poor erections by the penis [erectile dysfunction (ED)], lowered sperm count and reduced fertility, or increased breast size. "

Yes... All true in my experience. *No jokes about my bra size please...

"Men also may have symptoms similar to those seen during menopause in women — hot flashes, increased irritability, inability to concentrate, and depression."

Hot flashes? In my case I may have had them several decades ago but I don't remember them being an issue. Yes 100% on the increased irritability and inability to concentrate.

"Some men may have a prolonged and severe decrease in testosterone production. As a result, they may experience loss of body hair and reduced muscle mass, their bones may be more brittle and prone to fracture, and their testes may become smaller and softer. In younger men, low testosterone production may reduce the development of body and facial hair, muscle mass, and genitals. In addition, their voices also may fail to deepen. "

I made it through puberty before I had my issues so no voice problems but yes on the thin hair, small and softer testes etc.

I don't think this site is a hype for HRT in my case at least I think they paint an accurate picture of low testosterone / Hypogonadism.

They then go on to talk about the benefits of HRT. I indeed do see great improvements in Sexual interest. I don't have any change in erectile function but my problems there are due to other problems (BP meds), I've very happy with the positive changes in my mood. And I also see a large amount of energy that I didn't have before. As I made it past Puberty before my problems I've had hair and continue to. *Other then on my head. Bone mass etc works like this. My doc said that as long as I'm on HRT I don't have special problems with that (Passed my Bone scan) If I decide to go off HRT I've got to deal with bone loss. Its as simple as that! - MrT

Sexual Interest

* Testosterone replacement has been shown to increase sexual interest and the frequency of spontaneous erections.

Erectile Function

* Testosterone replacement restores erectile function in androgen deficient men in the absence of other diseases (such as blood vessel and nerve diseases that occur commonly in older men) that affect erectile dysfunction.

Mood

* Men whose condition makes them depressed, angry, tired, or confused prior to therapy may feel better after receiving supplemental testosterone.

Masculine Characteristics

* Men taking testosterone can maintain masculine characteristics such beard growth and pubic hair.

Bone Density and Muscle Mass

* Testosterone therapy can increase lean muscle mass and bone density in men and improve grip and leg strength.

[Danya (imported)]

I'll add some brief comments to those of my most esteemed colleagues, dev and MrT.

BTW, MrT, I'd never consider teasing you about such a sensitive thing as your bra size. Let's get real here, please. That's a very private matter between you and...whomever. I'd just as soon not know. Too much information!

I'll briefly comment, though, that some of the effects of low T a male will experience are likely heavily dependent on whether he sought that state or not. And on whether there are pre-existing conditions that might aggravate the effects of low T, like underlying depression or other medical conditions existing before low T.

I can totally understand why a typical male, with a strong sex drive, would get depressed about lost libido, erectile capability, etc. This type of dude wants to be a hot, horny stud. That's what he's used to, grooves on and the loss would be devastating.

OTOH, there's the atypical male like me, who doesn't want to be male at all. I've not gotten depressed on low T and I'm now into my 11th week on Androcur. In fact, I've never been less depressed in my life. Thing is, I don't mind the loss of libido at all and that makes a huge difference in my outlook. I've had perhaps 2 or 3 irritable episodes during treatment.

This doesn't have anything to do with my desire for low T, but I've had no hot flashes. I've just been diagnosed with osteoporosis and that's the result of years of recurring treatment with prednisone, a prescribed steroid to control my asthma. This drug is know to cause bone loss. It is certainly true, though, that men with low T need to be very concerned about osteoporosis.

It is wise to fully investigate the effects of drastically lowered testosterone, whatever your reasons for seeking that state. I also think it's wise to have a good understanding of your own motivations and expectations. Are these realistic? Are they healthy? (that one's really hard to pin down.)

[gpb3aol (imported)]

I have a question, I have low testosterone due to being chemically castrated by chemotherapy. My T level is about 100 (400-1000). I like having the emotions that low

T gives me. I have no problem with low libido, well none existent libido I should say.

I'm not depressed, but I do have a total lack of energy. I've alway been very active, I normally hike 5+ miles very weekend and power walk three miles three times a week. Now I just want to sit in my chair and watch TV or now dont laugh knit.

Does anyone else have this problem, does anyone know how to fix it. My doc says TRT but I like everything else about being a enunch, I've always wanted to be androgynous and now that I am I want to stay that way. so help please.

Gary

[mrt (imported)]

Todd thank you for your kind words (bowing) and for not making a point of my bra size. Which I don't have btw....

Sir you make an excellent point about desire for the state being important to how well you function that way. If I take my "replacement" testicles (silicone) as a similar example. I've heard from a variety of Cancer patients how unhappy they were with them. Too hard, "Fake", not the right size, feel wrong etc.

In my case my natal ones hurt on a regular basis were shrunkup and deflated feeling. I was not.... happy with them. Getting new ones of the proper size for an adult male, pain free! that were firm rather then deflated? I was more then happy and I think made my surgeons day who was used to people being miserable with his efforts to restore some sense of "manhood" to his patients.

I was told when I went on HRT that I might experience the WOW effect which was elation at having my receptors filled up with Testosterone instead of nothing or stray estrogen. I think that our TS friends who get their Testosterone shut off and go on Estrogen often feel the same way. For those that are not happy with being "male" with all that goes with it I can sort of understand that but it comes with a cost. I've told so many people that testosterone is not just the "juice" that makes you horny nor do normal levels make you angry and aggressive. In fact going on HRT made me FAR less angry and uptight. Its also in some ways about health. That or Estrogen are needed (I think) for bone health, mood, energy and mental clarity at least. Far more I'm sure but those I would vouch for.

I'll add some brief comments to those of my most esteemed colleagues, dev and MrT.

BTW, MrT, I'd never consider teasing you about such a sensitive thing as your bra size. Let's get real here, please. That's a very private matter between you and...whomever. I'd just as soon not know. Too much information!

I'll briefly comment, though, that some of the effects of low T a male will experience are likely heavily dependent on whether he sought that state or not. And on whether there are pre-existing conditions that might aggravate the effects of low T, like underlying depression or other medical conditions existing before low T.

I can totally understand why a typical male, with a strong sex drive, would get depressed about lost libido, erectile capability, etc. This type of dude wants to be a hot, horny stud. That's what he's used to, grooves on and the loss would be devastating.

OTOH, there's the atypical male like me, who doesn't want to be male at all. I've not gotten depressed on low T and I'm now into my 11th week on Androcur. In fact, I've never been less depressed in my life. Thing is, I don't mind the loss of libido at all and that makes a huge difference in my outlook. I've had perhaps 2 or 3 irritable episodes during treatment.

This doesn't have anything to do with my desire for low T, but I've had no hot flashes. I've just been diagnosed with osteoporosis and that's the result of years of recurring treatment with prednisone, a prescribed steroid to control my asthma. This drug is know to cause bone loss. It is certainly true, though, that men with low T need to be very concerned about osteoporosis.

It is wise to fully investigate the effects of drastically lowered testosterone, whatever your reasons for seeking that state. I also think it's wise to have a good understanding of your own motivations and expectations. Are these realistic? Are they healthy? (that one's really hard to pin down.)

[Danya (imported)]

Hi gpb3aol,

I started Androcur over 12 weeks ago - I can hardly believe it! My libido, in the usual male sense of things, is gone. Like you, I consider myself androgynous.

I often feel really low on energy, too. What I've found is that if I force myself to exercise despite the low energy, it does wonders for me. Afterwards, I feel just as energized as I did before starting chemical castration.

I definitely relate to your low energy. Sometimes, I give in to that and veg out. If you can get motivated to get back to your normal hiking and power walking routine, though, I think you'll find your energy returning.

Long before (OK, OK...it was decades before), I started Androcur I loved to do needle point and crewel work. I've always wanted to learn how to knit. Right now I don't have the time!

Hope the chemotherapy did what it needed to.

-todd

[Danya (imported)]

MrT, old pal,

I agree on the hormone issue and bone health. This does concern me, even more so since I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. If the U endocrinologist suggests some estrogen, I'm willling to try it. I'm not at all sure I'd ever want to go back to even a small level of testosterone. Time will tell.

-Dannie aka todd

[mrt (imported)]

MrT, old pal,

I agree on the hormone issue and bone health. This does concern me, even more so since I was recently, diagnosed with osteoporosis. If the U endocrinologist suggests some estrogen, I'm willling to try it. I'm not at all sure I'd ever want to go back to even a small level of testosterone. Time will tell.

-Dannie aka todd

I think that its possible your receptors would be very happy with some hromones be it Estrogen or Testosterone. Since you have GID I think it might be worth trying to see how it feels and if this is the direction you want to move in. I've sat pondering this concept of gender being a spectrum. ie people not being male or female but all sorts of bits in between. If your motivation to shut down the male part of you hummm.... sets you free to explore where you fit in? All the better I think. Or being a castrate maybe the destination as well. I've read some of the stuff on the web that talks about m2f transexuals that end up stopping with orchiectomy and female HRT. Some of this I had always attributed to people running out of money (What with the costs of SRS) but perhapes..... a good deal of them simply want to shed being "male" and once thats been done with Orchiectomy they are done? Interesting points to ponder... I wonder also if some of it might be that as females with possibly lower then female levels of testosterone there is no urge to be sexual and thus that final surgical step is then seen as un needed?

[DonFL (imported)]

since your male th UU endo will prob not recommend it unless you mentioned your transgendered or something.. or ask about it. Endos tend to minimize the ammount of treatment, allot of the time to the detriment of the patient.