Jeff,

You have, of course, hit on the single most important point - quality, NOT quantity, of life.

For many of those who read the Archive, removal of their testicles would increase the quality of their lives, as they perceive it. If there's also some increase in quantity, that's an added bonus, though certainly not central to their decision.

For most males, any damage to or loss of their testicles would be perceived as seriously damaging to their quality of life. Damaging enough that many men would refuse castration EVEN IF it is necessary to prolong their lives. Many testicular cancer and prostate cancer patients resist surgery that physicians consider essential. They are opting for quality of life, as they perceive it, and are much less interested in quantity.

The medical establishment needs to be much more focused on QUALITY!

JesusA (imported) wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:56 pm Jeff, You have, of course, hit on the single most important point - quality, NOT quantity, of life....

For most males,

JesusA (imported) wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:56 pm loss of their testicles would be perceived as seriously damaging to their quality of life. Damaging enough that many men would refuse castration EVEN IF it is necessary to prolong their lives. Many testicular cancer and prostate cancer patients resist surgery that physicians consider essential. They are opting for quality of life, as they perceive it.....The medical establishment needs to be much more focused on QUALITY!

The varying focei of individuals on the issue of castration is interesting. I had little difficulty imagining the loss of my testicles once I was already receiving testosterone supplementation. That I suffered various amounts of pain as a result of the scar tissue that had built up in my epididymis (pl?) from numerous infections only added to my willingness to lose my testicles. It's hard for me to believe that I'm part of a very small minority that would be willing to live a quite full life minus testicles. I think I'm better off w/o them. That my doc, on my telling him that they were gone, said that I could in the future have as much testosterone as I wanted (I'm not sure he really meant it - he was in a bit of shock) only added to my conclusion that I'd done what was best.

We digress. Testicles are not necessary except from a reproductive viewpoint. We can live good lives w/o them.

Jeff,

I'm new to the group, and this is my first post here.

I am in complete agreement with you that a man can have a quality sex life without testicles. I have been traveling that road for twenty years.

I had to lose my testicles because of very painful varicoceles; pain that was severe enough that I willingly had them removed. I did not have implants, and a couple years after being castrated I had the scrotum removed also.

Luckily, I was able to go on testosterone replacement, and all this time I have managed a satisfactory sex life. While technically a eunich, the only thing I can't do is become a father. That's fine by me.

Norm