How to start the discussion with your Dr.

[glans (imported)]

Gianna Israel, a therapist specializing in gender issues, has written a very interesting article about castration in the non-transexual community. She is located in San Francisco, and a search on her name will give you ways to get in touch with her. She apparently has worked with many men who want to be castrated, and might be your best source for a referral in the Bay Area. Good luck.

[numnuts (imported)]

Maybe there needs to be 'Eunuch Pride Parades' and marches?

That's how African-Americans gained acceptance.

That's how women gained (still working on) equal rights.

That's how Gays started feeling a little bit better about themselves.

It would be progress. And the beauty about progress is it ends up provideing that something so seemingly abnormal and 'Eunique' just becomes part of the everyday venacular and 'no big deal'.

[tugon (imported)]

Maybe there needs to be 'Eunuch Pride Parades' and marches?

That's how African-Americans gained acceptance.

That's how women gained (still working on) equal rights.

That's how Gays started feeling a little bit better about themselves.

It would be progress. And the beauty about progress is it ends up provideing that something so seemingly abnormal and 'Eunique' just becomes part of the everyday venacular and 'no big deal'.

I am hoping the survey that many of us responded to will show the medical community our numbers and our need. I think that was an excellent way to come out to the medical community. After all we need their support more than the general population.

Some members have been involved in gay pride parades as eunuchs and many of those parades are coming up. We have also had articles about us recently some good some not so good.

I worked in a hospital for 15 years and believe me the male dominated medical community needs educating. At the risk of losing my job I talked to a urologist about the idea of castration. His knee jerk reaction was "you'd have to be crazy". He was a very caring man and even helped someone attain gender reassignment surgery. The education was out there for that need but to just be a eunuch was something he never had dealt with before. I agree with several others that the help of a therapist might make a urologist consider your wishes more seriously.

[inksteelmods (imported)]

Gianna Israel passed away back in February 2006. Thanks for the suggestion.

Just based on the very small sampling of opinion here, it seems that no one has knowledge of anyone having a supportive reaction from their primary care physician. It is bewildering to see so many suggest psychiatric type care as a prelude.

[SplitDik (imported)]

Ink, you CAN find sympathetic primary care doctors, but they will refer you to a psychiatrist anyway. Like you said, it may be mostly for their own legal protection, but that is the way the system works.

The reason we suggest psychiatrist first is that you are going to see one anyway, so why not start where the influence is?

Note I think you may have a prejudice against psychiatrists. A desire to modify your body, even if sound and sustained, is a psychological issue -- assuming there is no cancer or other testicular problem. You have a body dysmorphia which is really common (even girls who want breast enlargement technically have this) and does not in any way mean you are crazy.

What's your reluctance to see a psychiatrist?

[inksteelmods (imported)]

Split,

I do not accept that one should do something just because "that is the way the system works". I am an engineer by profession and it's in my nature to challenge convention and to think outside the box.

You've made some unwarranted assumptions. I've opened this debate here to get this input. In my opinion however, you have not made a successful case for pursuing the psychiatric course. I believe there is a genuine need for psychiatry in general. In my opinion, psychiatry is the science of dialog which seeks to dissect behavior or beliefs to the extent that one can easily understand such behavior or beliefs as they relate to predetermined models. It's sort of like reverse engineering.

Body modification has been around and has thrived since long before the science of psychiatry arrived in our society. Who among us has given psychiatrists the authority to determine the acceptability of what has gone on for thousands of years without their approval? I do not condone volunteering to psychiatric oversight anymore than approving of the way government can intrude in the rights of individuals.

[Hash (imported)]

Something you said sounds familiar, I think I heard it from Dr. Kimmel. If you want an easy castration, with only a few questions asked, call Dr. Kimmel, set up an appointment, take a plane to Philadelphia, see the sights, and you'll be castrated in about an hour. He will require you to stay overnight. But that's it. No shrinks, no problem. Hash

[SplitDik (imported)]

Okay, if you're doing it because you want to challenge the system, then definitely do it the way you're doing. I thought you wanted advice on the easiest way to get castrated through proper medical channels.

It is actually fun to "shock" your doctor with your desire. As long as you don't mind embarassment, it can be really fun.

[sag111 (imported)]

For me I was as honest and open to my doctor as I could be and both my doctor and my urologest did what I asked them to do for me.O yes and you can bet i prayed about this more then just once for me I think the prayers were the best help for me.