life without HRT

[twaddler (imported)]

Is it possibly to maintain one's health after being castrated without HRT?

I think I'm liking being as I am now, without E or T.

[tugon (imported)]

I am a no HRT eunuch and I have health concerns not so much from a lack of T but family history and my own bad behaviors. I do not feel being a eunuch has negatively effected my health. I have struggled with my weight pre and post castration and with the excess weight, family history I am now a diabetic. I suffered from hypoglycemia prior to castration which is an indicator diabetes is in your future. I have also had high blood pressure, another family gift, since my mid 20's. Even while thin my blood pressure was elevated. I have not had a bonescan so I do not know about my bone strength but I have always taken calcium.

Quality of life has been good for me. I am rarely sick but with the occasional sinus troubles. I feel good physically and have a higher and more consistent levels of happiness. The ten years as a eunuch have been better then the 41 before. I do need to exercise more.

[gpb3aol (imported)]

Is it possibly to maintain one's health after being castrated without HRT?

I think I'm liking being as I am now, without E or T.

Well I'm only been off T for a few months, but I've had long talks with my GP, now I'm 62, so things are a little different between me and a 20 something. For me, there are few problems living without T, I would say the only problem I have is it's harder to get out of bed in the morning to take my 3 mile power walk. My upper body strenght is decreasing but come on I'm 62 it was going to happen sometime soon anyhow. She told me at my age if I'm going to have bone problems it won't be from no T.

I think if you work out, eat close to well, don't posion yourself with drugs and smoking with or without T you'll live healthy.

My 2 cents.

Pauline.

[jeff_macadams (imported)]

I'm also a no HRT eunuch. Castrated relatively young at 33. I DO HAVE osteoporosis. That's not much fun but with proper treatment (for life) one can live with it. Fosomax or similar will get you past the osteo issues. Otherwise I have only noticed a propensity for weight gain (I was up to 250 lbs at 5 feet 7 inches. I have been dieting and am down to 189 lbs). Watching your calories must be a lifelong occupation of the no HRT eunuch (normally - results may vary). I have also lost a lot of muscle mass since being cut. My 16 year old cousin can arm wrestle me down quickly indeed! I would do it all again though and do not feel that I made a mistake. I am happy and a better person than I was before

[gandalf (imported)]

I am on HRT and wanting to get off. Being 69 (well, 70 in about 3 weeks) and no bone loss, I think that I might be able to go off hrt with few effects. Probably mainly they would be loss of muscle strength and gain weight...but those can be helped otherwide.

[bobbie (imported)]

Between chemical and real castration I have been off of testosterone for over 5 years. My health is good. I do have osteoporosis and take medication for it. My strength is less and do not have as much energy as before. Emotions are very much different. They are stronger and no longer suppressed. My doctor has offered me HRT many times and I refused to even try it. I am so much more happy with my present "ME". There is so many more pluses for me in the present that I will live with the few negatives that come with it. In any life type you will have the good and the bad. One has to pick the one that fits them the best and accept that life.

[plix (imported)]

The answer is that basically no one really knows. There are studies pointing both ways, both that low T increases and decreases the risk for certain health problems.

This is especially true for heart disease. For a long time it was believed that T increases the risk for heart disease due to it creating an unfavorable lipid profile. But now other studies are showing a correlation between low T and heart disease.

The one thing that is fairly certain is that low T increases the risk of osteoporosis and nearly eliminates the risk for prostate problems. But everything else is speculation, and there are studies that people on both sides of the issue can use to prove their points.

We know so little about the human body as a whole. We really have no idea what screwing with the natural system does over the long-term, and we may never fully understand it.

I'd say the best advice is to live a life that makes you happy because you only live once, and you don't want to force yourself to do all the burdensome things to supposedly stay healthy everyday of your life, live to be 90, and then say you haven't lived a day in your life. Quantity of years count for squat if they aren't quality. Just do what you need to do and let nature take care of the rest.

[dancinggizmos (imported)]

guess it depends on the person I am 24 suffered Orchitis of both testicles and I am on 5 mg on Testosterone gel every 12 hours so 10 mg a day and without it I just do not feel myself, I am a dominate guy and the depression on HRT has as well gone away, It just really sepends on the person.

I live have my testosterone at its best, some guys just want enough where they do not develop bone disease etc, some of us like to have our full feelings and normal abilities back.

It is not the same as when I was fully functioning properley as of yet, but it it a change for the best for me.

[BudleyBare (imported)]

I too am a non-HRT castrated male, fast approaching 2 years now. During the later part of 2007 I began to think I needed HRT because of energy loss. I refrained from jumping into that box, and find now that my energy is coming back, albeit slowly. The other health conditions that I have seem to be unaffected by the presence or absence of T. The only thing I can point to that apparently has been affected by the loss of T is that my fingernails seem to be more "delicate", meaning more easily broken.

I think the best answer to your question is that it really depends on the person involved.

[Falcon (imported)]

I've been without T for almost 9 months, and I feel very well, thank you. I'm having a bone scan in a few weeks, and some other blood work, but I've really had no significant problems. I take a calcium supplement, I try to stay active, and I watch my diet. One downside is that a level of diet/exercise that would have had me losing weight before, now only keeps my weight the same.

I can assure you, I feel like a human being for the first time in my life.

Falcon.