During this discussion, several good points have come up.
1) "What if the BtE leater decides he wants a family?" Simple: ADOPT Please! As I have on at least 2 occasions, there are plenty of children looking for a good home. Adoption can, in some ways, be a mixed blessing; you're never sure about the child's background, but work with a good psychologist therapist, or psychiatrist can help with any issues that might arise before you proceed.
2.) Why does it seem that most of the discussion about having a family implies that having testes limits a eunuch from marrying or adopting. I'm unaware of any such laws, and the same for single parent adoptions.
3.) Why does it seem that most of the discussion about having a family implies that everyone wants to start his family with infants.
4.) Long-term studies of adults who lack testes during his teenge years: Research on boys (physically) with Kleinfelter's Syndrome have exactly the characteristics expected in any adult that hasn't or never would go through puberty. In Kleinfelter's, though, it is caused by a
cause the testes to start maturing and with it the start of puberty. A course of HRT triggers the testes which then continue producing testosterone as in any other male. What are the results of those that never choose HRT, but instead, choose to remain immature phisically? There is a perfect group to study.
Again, ironically, for those that do not choose to go from BtM, not by their own choice,but, by some other cause, by nature or traumatic injury, prior to the onset of puberty, are allowed, by law, to remain as they are, until they can make an informed decision. What typically happens is that the doctor will wait for the boy to choose HRT. Parent are often told to leave the boy alone, particularly when the cost of on-going HRT treatments becomes into the discussion. Let him choose, typically that occurs around age 15, when he sees other boys in the showers at school, developing. If he wants to be in athletic sports, he will gain an appreciation of what testosterone (HRT) can provide. In other cases, the "boys" adapts to his body as it, and leave "well-enough" alone.
Testicular cancer (occurring in the late teens and early 20's, well after puberty) survivors, have little choice but to remain a eunuchs, with all of the side-effects of any other MtE, and often, because the concern of the redevelopment of the cancer, HRT is disallowed, so often, they remain MtE by absolute physical necessity.
5.) Identifying BtE boys: MtE, BtG, GtB, MtF, and FtM all feel that body is "wrong". They feel very uncomfortable in the body that are "stuck in. In the case of BtG and GtB, it when expected behavior does match the everyday actions and interactions that cause adults (usually the parents) to seek out professional assistance. The type of "assistance too depends on the type of training, background and "whims" of the professional chosen. In the case od MtF and FtM, they are often required to under counseling, for as much as 2 years, before the operations begin. For MtE, it the difficulty in finding a doctor that will perform the required operation. At least now, BtG and GtB is finally being recognized in parts of the medical community.
However, for BtE's, there is no level of discomfort. He is absolutely happy just as he is. He is VERY uncomfortable with the profound chagnges that he sees occurring in older boys that are transitioning into teenage and adult males. He wants no part of it, for various reasons already discussed here. The problem starts for BtE when, and if, he says: Mom and Dad, I happy I'm being a boy and stay just want to as I am!" Nearly as bad a reaction to a gay person "coming out of the closet." Well, off to therapist, certainly in the former case, less so the latter, we go.
6.) How do we determine which boys"need" to transition into a pre-pubertal eunuch? During the annual physical, there has to be a consultative review with each of the young patients starting at age 10 and then annually (or semi-annually), until T2 occurs (I think T2 is still young enough to avoid the MtE issues, the development of testes and penis are still quite modest,though I could be mistaken), to determine what the boy thinks of of his on-coming entry into manhood. How many would say "Are you nuts?" Very few would say anything else. Those that don't want is coming, they need very careful therapy.
And by this, I don't mean the coercive therapy that is too often the goal: to convince the boy the he is "wrong-headed" about becoming a man. The therapist became man, shouldn't this boy want the same thing? This is where training and education of mental-health professionals is critical. Determining which boys are passing through a phase (thought of akin to a passing of gay boys who are expected to become straight men) or that they are extremely committed to remaining a boy (possibly to point of self-harm) is crucial.
7.) Long-term use of blockers: Using actual case of boys that are potential BtG or BtE that choose to resume puberty as they are is a good place to start. This will help to understand what the exposure to blockers over the course of several years. The same for cancer survivors that stop Androcur after remission of cancer. Do the testes resume functioning again? Or do they wither as those of steroid users? do the testes of BtG testes wither while on blockers? With a slow growth in BtG's coming, we will be able to answer the long-term effects of blockers.
For all of those of us that would like to have been BtE, I wish there had been some rational and reasonable outlet for expressing this desire BEFORE puberty.
It really does come down to the boy convincing those around him that he serious about being BtE. That really is my view of BtE, just simply remaining in the body of the boy that he knows and loves, not body of a man that represents everything hes does not want. It's not like being a man is some foreign concept. In my case, the were many reasons, not least of which was father, that I wanted to remain just the boy I was.
IF HE SAYS IT, HE MEANS IT! Good lord, why and how else would he work up the courage to "come of the closet" about such a thing? So many of here wish we could have done so in a save way. I wanted to, but I knew that even the hint of such a thought would have had me brought to a counselor the following day. And, not to discover the true cause and reasoning, but, rather that was extremely mistaken in thinking that. This one of though worst times for adults to "know best" what is "best" for little Johnny. Really, little Johnny just wants to stay little Johnny. Just that simple, at least in his eyes.
I hope these comments answer at least some of your questions, and can provide further discussion points.
YC
The law probably has to have a boundary, but who really knows what the proper limits are?
Then medical intervention becomes the necessity. For other boys, BtE by accident, consultation becomes a necessity after the accident to determine when to want to go from EtM, if ever. HRT cost has to be a serious consideration for them in the decision-making process, not left out.