Dealing with mental effects of a low testosterone

[notalife (imported)]

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone, I am not sure if I belong on this board or will be welcome, but I recieved and injury/problem about 3 1/2 months ago that has left me a problem with my testicles and has resulted in a lowered testosterone

I didnt even know what testosterone was before this and how men had different levels but I know now I had a good dosing of it based on how fast and full my facial hair was coming in and how I felt around women

I think this must also suck doubly because after spending the first 13 years of my pubecent life being scared of women and running away from them I just started in the last few years gaining confidence and was talking to girls and flirting with them and touching them and it was such an amazing feeling, I could only imagine it would be topped by having sex with them being with them and waking up next to a girl

Now I feel like hell, I took a testosterone check in August and that came back at 414 and I have a feeling it has gone down alot since then as I know my testicles have shrunk and I feel much worse

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone? I was already going through alot in my life and in therapy and was close to achieving a peace for the first time in my life and this happens and it feels like my life is in hell

And I know it is possible to take Testosterone Replacement, but I kind of have this thing against medicine, I was on anti-depressents for a while and just hated it, my kind of attitude is unless I am going to do it naturally I dont think I want to do it

[cordonone (imported)]

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone, I am not sure if I belong on this board or will be welcome, but I recieved and injury/problem about 3 1/2 months ago that has left me a problem with my testicles and has resulted in a lowered testosterone

I didnt even know what testosterone was before this and how men had different levels but I know now I had a good dosing of it based on how fast and full my facial hair was coming in and how I felt around women

I think this must also suck doubly because after spending the first 13 years of my pubecent life being scared of women and running away from them I just started in the last few years gaining confidence and was talking to girls and flirting with them and touching them and it was such an amazing feeling, I could only imagine it would be topped by having sex with them being with them and waking up next to a girl

Now I feel like hell, I took a testosterone check in August and that came back at 414 and I have a feeling it has gone down alot since then as I know my testicles have shrunk and I feel much worse

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone? I was already going through alot in my life and in therapy and was close to achieving a peace for the first time in my life and this happens and it feels like my life is in hell

And I know it is possible to take Testosterone Replacement, but I kind of have this thing against medicine, I was on anti-depressents for a while and just hated it, my kind of attitude is unless I am going to do it naturally I dont think I want to do it

You have a lot of important decisions to make. I'd strongly urge you to get some counselling, both psychological and from a good endocrinologist who is willing to roll up his/her sleeves and work with you to get the best result for yourself.

414 is at the low end of the normal range, especially if you are young. If it's gone below 200, then you are out of what is usually regarded as the normal range, though I hasten to add that every individual is different and the science of testosterone tests has a certain degree of variability to it (in other words, one needs to be tested more than once or twice to be sure that the read is accurate).

There are consequences (bone density, muscle mass, low libido to name a few) to going without Testosterone in your system, but, as far as I know, none of them are life-threatening, though you should be advised by a competent doctor, who can take into account your own body chemistry and give you an assessment that fits your own situation.

Assuming that you end up with very low (below 50) testosterone in your body, your facial hair growth will, as you have probably noticed, slow down though not stop. You will gradually lose most of the hair growth associated with "male secondary sex characteristics," but it will take a long while before it completely disappears, but eventually most of it will go away. You will probably also start to deposit more fat in your breasts and may even have some tissue growth there, depending on your own blood chemistry. Your skin will become a little softer and you will notice a difference in your skin tone, which might be related to underlying muscle tone.

I've been on HRT for nearly my entire post-"pubescent" life. I've also gone off it at times for various reasons. Personally, I'm happier both libido-wise and in general when I'm taking Testosterone and my levels are in the mid to upper ranges of normal. But, I am reluctant to universalize my own experience. However, testosterone therapy, properly monitored and adjusted as to the levels in your blood stream, is completely safe.

In the end, this is a set of highly individual and personal decisions with consequences for your overall physical and mental well-being. Get advice from people who know what they are talking about and, most importantly, who know you and have your well-being at heart.

[kristoff]

Adding a footnote to what Cordonone said (good advice), your post is appropriate here and you are indeed welcome here. Welcome to our little Zoo. Explore a great deal - there is a lot of information here, for both the involuntary as well as voluntary eunuch, or person experiencing injury or orchalgia, or cancer or whatever. Welcome.

[nutme248 (imported)]

AllI can do is to tell you my story. I can only speak for myself. Your mileage may vary.

I have investigated castration for anumber of years now due to a set of painful testicles I have lived with for years. As my research progressed, I learned about the effects of low testosterone and saw how I was a textbook example of that condition.

I was overweight, near-suicidally depressed, had no initiative or enjoyment of life. Also, it was frustrating since I couldn't get an erection even though I had somewhat of a desire for sex.

When I did finally start HRT, it made a big difference. Not all of my problems are solved however I have almost no suicidal thoughts now . I finally have the chemically-assisted balls to stand up to my manipulating she-devil sister .

Before I get indignant and impassioned replies from many eunuchs, please remember that this is MY experience. Others might do well with low Testosterone.

Also, I still want a castration to get rid of my balls since they don't work well anyway and give me other trouble.

Dave

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone, I am not sure if I belong on this board or will be welcome, but I recieved and injury/problem about 3 1/2 months ago that has left me a problem with my testicles and has resulted in a lowered testosterone

I didnt even know what testosterone was before this and how men had different levels but I know now I had a good dosing of it based on how fast and full my facial hair was coming in and how I felt around women

I think this must also suck doubly because after spending the first 13 years of my pubecent life being scared of women and running away from them I just started in the last few years gaining confidence and was talking to girls and flirting with them and touching them and it was such an amazing feeling, I could only imagine it would be topped by having sex with them being with them and waking up next to a girl

Now I feel like hell, I took a testosterone check in August and that came back at 414 and I have a feeling it has gone down alot since then as I know my testicles have shrunk and I feel much worse

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone? I was already going through alot in my life and in therapy and was close to achieving a peace for the first time in my life and this happens and it feels like my life is in hell

And I know it is possible to take Testosterone Replacement, but I kind of have this thing against medicine, I was on anti-depressents for a while and just hated it, my kind of attitude is unless I am going to do it naturally I dont think I want to do it

[Francis (imported)]

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone, I am not sure if I belong on this board or will be welcome, but I recieved and injury/problem about 3 1/2 months ago that has left me a problem with my testicles and has resulted in a lowered testosterone

I didnt even know what testosterone was before this and how men had different levels but I know now I had a good dosing of it based on how fast and full my facial hair was coming in and how I felt around women

I think this must also suck doubly because after spending the first 13 years of my pubecent life being scared of women and running away from them I just started in the last few years gaining confidence and was talking to girls and flirting with them and touching them and it was such an amazing feeling, I could only imagine it would be topped by having sex with them being with them and waking up next to a girl

Now I feel like hell, I took a testosterone check in August and that came back at 414 and I have a feeling it has gone down alot since then as I know my testicles have shrunk and I feel much worse

Is it possible to live and be happy with a low testosterone? I was already going through alot in my life and in therapy and was close to achieving a peace for the first time in my life and this happens and it feels like my life is in hell

And I know it is possible to take Testosterone Replacement, but I kind of have this thing against medicine, I was on anti-depressents for a while and just hated it, my kind of attitude is unless I am going to do it naturally I dont think I want to do it

It is possible to live with low T but far from optimim for most people. My advice would be to first go see a good endricrinologist and/or urologist and see if the problem is real and whether anything can be done to rectify it. Hopefully it may be some developmental thing that will come right. If it is cureable get on with it ASAP If not you sound like you are young and a bit uncertain but my feeling is that if your T levels are low you should consider the testosterone replacement to keep a lot of the things already mentioned here by others from happening, including your ability to lead a normal sex life and have a family if you want. If you let this issue go on too long there may be irreversible effects on your development both mentally and physically. Get the best medical advice you can. It is one thing for those of us who have an interest in castration but it is another thing for a young guy with accidental damage to just assume that it can't be fixed and not even try to have it carefully and professionally looked at. Having T supplements is not the worst thing in the world. There are various means of doing it including patches and injections. Good luck with it

[Testman (imported)]

What makes this sad is that his level does seem low to him, yet many docs won't give him HRT, just because there are men with lower levels than 414. In fact, its ridiculous. But you can always lower it yourself, then get the blood tested for testosterone levels. :thank you: I did that once when I decided I wanted a legal source for testosterone. My level tested at 28ng/dl! And I did this with no muscle loss and no castration-like side effects. There are tricks. . .

[nullorchis (imported)]

When I started visiting this site I had fantasies, desires, hopes about full castration.

This has been a life long desire. But I had much to learn.

As a youth I must have had a very high T level, though it was never measured.

Extensive acne, non-stop libido, anger and anxiety galore.

In pre-computer days I had no information about anything so I was very ignorant.

Eventually, for various reasons, that I won't get into here, My T level dropped below 180 then 150. I had all kinds of mental, emotional, and physical consequences of that.

From the experiences of others who visit this site I have learned how many mis-conceptions I had about myself and about the mental, physical, and emotional consequences of our endoctrine system.

I learned it is not just about testosterone. There are many hormones, including estrogen, that affect the mental-physical connectivity of our bodies. When your body is in it's own natural balance all you need to do is eat well, exercise, don't smoke, monerate drinking and you will do as good as you are ever going to do.

Once something goes wrong, or you start tinkering with things, (like surgical or chemical castration) one change will affect something else, which will affect something else, and so on, and you can't really know what the end result will be, even from the experience of others, because our bodies are all different.

Medicine has not yet started to fully study or know about all the interrelationships of the male hormone system. Getting JUST a testosterone lab test will not tell you or your doctor everything that you need to know about your hormones. Presence or absence of testerone is only part of the picture; that is one of the biggest things I have learned since I started visiting this site. I am trying to get a full range of hormone tests, but it isn't easy; doctor's don't do this usually and don't know how to evaluate the results or what to do about any results that are not what they should be. An endoctrinologist is suppose to be the way to go, but I have not yet looked for one.

Still livng and learning, better off than I was, and enjoying the trip.

[clysmaniac (imported)]

I think that mental attitude/outlook may vary somewhat with testosterone level but is probably more influenced by your general personality and outlook. I went to my regular physician for a physical in July and he found my testicles were small and firm. I wasn't complaining of any symptoms of low T although I did have some. The physical was just a yearly one. Anyway, he sent me for an ultrasound and then to a urologist after seeing the results. The urologist did another ultrasound and then a blood test- testosterone level 95. Have since done a biopsy with the diagnosis that my testicles are infarcted- medical term for dead as far as function goes but not causing any immediate other problems. We're holding for a few months and another T test.

But yet my outlook on life, etc hasn't changed to become moody or depressed. I have lost some strength and sexual ability/desires but that's about all that has changed. No weight gain, penis shrinkage, breast development, etc. I am 61 now so sex isn't as important as it was 30 years ago. I think that has to be factored in somehow in your general outlook.

[mrt (imported)]

414 is still high enough that its very doubtful anyone would offer to put you on HRT. If however its gone down from that its worth finding out how low and pondering your options.

You asked if anyone can be happy with low testosterone. Based on posts from a number of people here it is. If you want my opinion its no. I was not happy or very functional with low testosterone and I've been on Hormone Replacement for years.

I understand your not keen on drugs. If you were diabetic and needed insulin I think its one of those sorry but you need this to live things. Is HRT the same way? For me its pretty close. My well being my quality of life are all affected and I don't mind it.

There are a variety of ways to get your Testosterone levels to normal. One is to take drugs that stimulate the production in your testes. There are some cases where doing this for a short run is all thats needed. If they are damaged and just won't function there are gels, creams, patches, implants and injections that all work great.

Good luck! *Welcome to the ZOO

[notalife (imported)]

my testicles have now become small and hard, does this mean they are dysfunctional, I feel a million times worse then I did when I wrote this 20 days ago, I wouldnt be surprised if I have no testosterone in me