Hi,

I'm aware that it's standard practice to remain on hormone blockers for some time after surgical castration as the endocrine system's feedback mechanisms will initially produce a flare in testosterone levels as it adjusts to the loss of the gonads.

When the blockers are the relatively ineffective androcur or spironolactone, I've heard figures of up to six months quoted for how long blockers should be maintained after surgery.

I'm currently on goserelin (zoladex) which is a much more effective hormone blocker, effectively blocking gonadal hormone production completely. My gender psych has suggested that my 12 week implant administered 1 week before surgical castration should be my last. My serum testosterone blood test results are well into the female range on goserelin. Does this mean that it's safe for me to only have 11 weeks of goserelin dose overlapping my surgical castration or will be endocrine system still be overcompensating for castration at that point? I'd rather avoid unexpected spikes in my hormone levels if I can.

Anyone know what's the best practice in this case?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Very interesting as I had never heard of this before. Of course I was not castrated by a doctor but of all the members who were under the care of a surgeon I had not read anyone mentioning hormone blockers. Please share as much as you can and I hope anyone with knowledge can help.

Have not heard of this also. I was not on anything after my castration until I started having hot flashes (very mild ones). Then my Dr. put me on HRT so I would not develop osteoporosis.

Thanks both of you, it's reassuring me to know this isn't common practice or advice for eunuchs. The practice seems to be standard for transsexual SRS/GRS in the UK, or at least used to be a decade ago when I last researched this. I have trans women friends who were definitely kept on androcur and pre-operative doses for HRT for months after surgery.

Having done some more searching around the subject, I've found a reference to "overactive adrenals" causing a major spike in testosterone being a rare occurrence after surgery. I think that because androcur and spiro are so cheap and easy to keep taking, trans women are or were advised to stay on them for a few months just in case.

Judging by the other thread on how long it takes for hormone levels to re-adjust after bilateral orchiectomy, eleven weeks of blockers overlapping my orchi should be plenty. Like I said, the fact that no one here's even heard of this idea is really reassuring me.

Thanks again!