Do the effects of castration change with age?

[Blaise (imported)]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Just a few points here:

1) How and why do you think I am obsessed?? Yes, I am interested in being in castrated and like many on the board (I think) this interest began at puberty - 13/14 in my case, but to call this interest/desire an obsession would be harsh to say the least. I would be interested to understand your reasoning here

2) I would say that I am not past puberty completly, and so the effects may be different - i.e I have not fully developed facial hair, and physcially I have not stopped growing yet - from the best of my knowledge, you only completly stop growing at 25 - which is when many here reccommend is the cut of point for castration before which it is not recommended.

I am aware that several people regret thier decision and I intend to complete my research and understand my decision before/if I follow through and speak to one person who does regret it and who lives near me. I know - it is not to be taken lightly

MW

If you are eighteen, you are long past puberty, but you will persist in developments your body started in puberty. You continue on these paths during adolescence and into early maturity. For example, your frontal lobes will develop by the time you are twenty-one.

Whether you are obsessed or not, I will not hazard to say. Did you mention obsession at all? Late teenage years are times when many of us have or had a lot of sexual desire. Is it really that bad? Maybe, it is. However, I doubt that feeling desire and enjoying sexual pleasure are bad experiences. I always found them pretty wonderful.

On reflection, I might have considered chemical castration had I known it was possible or if it had been possible a long time ago. Still, the relationships I enjoyed have been the best part of life.

Talking to a therapist who has experience working with those who have problems related to sexuality and gender simply sounds prudent. That does not mean that you suffer from some disorder or have a problem. It is just taking care to look carefully before you make a decision.

There are people who will mutilate you without wincing and without regret regardless what is good for you. You do not seem to take this decision lightly. Just being here indicates that. However, take your time and survey the terrain.

Because of the side-effects of medication that I needed, I lived over a decade with little libido. I thought that I enjoyed not having it. I suppose that I even did enjoy the loss. However, I now realize that I did suffer loss and that loss hurts.

I believe that I understand many of the benefits of low libido. However, take care. Sometimes, you do not get to go back when you make changes.

[A-1 (imported)]

manc-wannabe sez...

2)...

Loss of Masulinity of the body - I don't want to be female but I would certainly like to have less body hair and keep a more teenage look, as opposed to looking like a fully mature man - not sure if this s

ounds right, but I hope you understand....

and...2) I would say that I am not past puberty completly, and so the effects may be different - i.e I have not fully developed facial hair, and physcially I have not stopped growing yet - from the best of my knowledge, you only completly stop growing at 25 - which is when many here reccommend is the cut

of point for castration before which it is not recommended...

Look, I didn't get a beard until I was about 24. Even then it was not full until age 29 or 30. No chest hair to speak of until I was 30. I was still getting carded in bars at 35.

I stopped growing at 18, however. Vertically, that is. Bone growth in the long bones usually ceases by age 18. You may get broader, but you will not get taller, even if you have acromegaly.

The point is this. If you want to look like a teenager, do not think that castration will do it. You will age anyway. If you want to get rid of body hair, try electrolysis. Castration will make you look more like a post-menopausal woman than it will a teenager.

Get a grip and think about this. Listen to these people and think about this. We are trying to help you here.

A-1

[sag111 (imported)]

Man_wannabe we arnt trying to get on your case we are only concerned and want to see you make the best choice.Maby for you castration at this time is best for you but you have to relise somthing here.The people here are only looking out for you because thay care about you.This is the best support group you will find on the internet and if you will take your time and learn from them you will make a better decission.Rember you have a whole liftime ahead of you my friend so take your time and get it right

[Eunuchist (imported)]

manc-wannabe sez...

The point is this. If you want to look like a teenager, do not think that castration will do it. You will age anyway. If you want to get rid of body hair, try electrolysis. Castration will make you look more like a post-menopausal woman than it will a teenager.

A-1

This is not so. Castration will prohibit any further masculinization and smooth the existing down. If you stay slim you'll look noticeably younger than your age, somewhat more effeminate overall. Castration will also reduce the rough facial features and existing hair growth, eliminate acne and oliy skin. I also believe castration at a young age slows down the ageing process, partly by lowering body metabolism and improving the immune system, partly by eliminating the excess depletion of body resources used for maintaining male characteristics and sexuality.

There is evidence that some castrati were noted for their younger appearance.

Burney reported in 1770 that Caffarelli (1710-1783) "look well. He doesn't look

to be above 50 although I've heard he's 64" (Caffarelli was 60).

When Burney met 61 yr Farinelli in 1766 he reported that "he was slim, but much younger than I expected".

Alessandro Moreschi looked like a choirboy at 40, likewise Franz Habock spoke of Moreschi's "youthful face" in 1914, when Moreschi was 56.

Stendhal saw Velluti in Vienna in 1831 and wrote "Velluti is a young man of about 36-38 years of age". Velluti was actually 50 then.

Stendhal also visited 75 yr Gasparo Pacchierotti in 1815, and reported "Pachierotti has all the fire of youth".

Jimmy Scott, the famous jazz singer with kallmann's who never took hormones looked like 17 at 25 - even now, at 80, he look somewhat younger his age.

On the hypogonadism homepage dedicated to those with Kallmann's it's an established dogma that these people generally look 10 years younger their age at any stage in life.

Also if you look at the portraits of some castrati they appear to be very well looking for their ages. Although it's difficult to make a direct comparison with the castrati here, it still reflect somewhat the impact on younger individuals.

My grannie's girlfriend was ovariectomized at 18 due to a medical neccesity. She never took any hormones. During her youth she was noted for being very attractive young lady and in no way did she look older than her peers. So there is no need to worry you'll look weared or aged after castration - that won't happen. Everyone will look wrecked if they don't hold their weight and bad nutrition habits/lifestyle at bay.

Also, another question asked was the issue of halting any further masculinization. I believe this issue recieved little apprehention unless the person was transgendered. In my opinon this is discrimination because both transgenders and this person desire less masculinity. This is not compatible with electrolyses because the overall goal is to be less masculine, in all aspects. In my view a vision of being androgyne, ie. neither male nor female, the desire of being free from the influence of sexual hormones is a legitimate reason for castration. The desire of being a neuter gender is no less important than a desire of shifting the existing gender. It's not to be discriminated against. This was one of the main reasons for me and I have absolutely no regrets. I was fortunate enough to fulfill my goals at a young age. One thing that bothers me though is a striking ignorance to this issue even at such a place as EA. Sigh. :-\