Many people seek castration for the impact of loss of testosterone (MtE people, others); others seek castration for purpose of body congruence (BIID); a number because of illness or injury; some because of a history of or proclivity for sexual offenses. Some refuse to use HRT after castration, others insist upon it, and some just find that they need it to function in society, but try to minimize the issue.

Out of curiosity I started researching known risk factors for both high and low testosterone levels. What are your thoughts, desires, and needs? Anything to add to the list?

Risks associated with LOW testosterone:

• Reduced energy

• Loss of muscle mass

• Increased risk of diabetes

• Increased risk of obesity

• Metabolic Syndrome

• Osteoporosis

• Cardiovascular issues?

• Poor mood (irritable, angry)

• Memory issues?

• Depression

• Lack of concentration

• Gynecomastia

Risks associated with HIGH testosterone:

• Elevated Red Blood Cell Count

• High Hemoglobin

• Elevated risk of stroke (double)

• Elevated risk of blood clots

• Sleep Apnea

• Increased risk of prostate cancer

• Increased risk of BPH

• Heart attack (double)

Well I "was" on T-supplements (Testopol) but last week diagnosed with prostrate cancer. I see my Uro on Tuesday. I assume my T replacement days are over...

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New study shows testosterone replacement has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. I was taken off Androgel my last visit to my endocrinologist.

Low testosterone could cause bad sleep and pain in joints.

High testosterone could make you too agressive,

also could lead to uncontrollable sex drive, causing problems in every day life.

All true, but there's nothing like a heart attack or stroke to spoil your whole day.

The info is all public to search. Suggest keeping to peer-reviewed medical sites if you want more than gossip.

The stroke and heart risks are real, now repeatedly shown. You can contemplate these while sleeping badly on account of the bad joints?

The mileage varies, of course, but the risk is real.

It has come to my attention that at least a few law firms are advertising on TV for clients who took testosterone as a drug and who developed problems attributable to testosterone thereafter.

For myself, I chose to avoid testosterone as soon as avoiding it became practical, when I was 47. My understanding of my family medical history strongly suggested to me that testosterone was, for me, either or both an effective carcinogen or an effective cancer promoter (perhaps by interfering with apoptosis?), and I decided that I would rather have a dead colon and dead testicles than to have a totally dead body, as happened to my dad and brother, and others.

I happen to be licensed as a professional engineer, and have both professional and research (doctorate) degrees in bioengineering, and find that my license as a professional engineer doing bioengineering requires that I be competent in all areas of biology that are relevant to my bioengineering work.

Physicians and surgeons have to learn a vast array of diagnoses, and that effort is formidable in terms of the time it takes to be professionally competent as a physician/surgeon. I had far more time to study biology, and especially, to work with theoretical biology, than any physician/surgeon I have ever known of was allowed.

Far more than when I got my orchiectomy in 1986, the after-the-fact wisdom of my surgery decisions has only increased, as I see it.

Since the genetic cancer condition I inherited (attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis) was first identified, in the early 1990s, my physicians have come to recognize that I, however it happened, got the biology right regarding my personal cancer risk and its practical minimization.

Consider the testosterone risk list provided by kristoff and my personal evaluation of them in italics:

• Reduced energy not my experience

• Loss of muscle mass not my experience

• Increased risk of diabetes not my experience so far

• Increased risk of obesity can't tell

• Metabolic Syndrome can't tell

• Osteoporosis not sure, while I do have some osteoporosis, there is no evidence that it was not present before my orchiectomy

• Cardiovascular issues? none in evidence

• Poor mood (irritable, angry) no more nor less than before my orchiectomy

• Memory issues? no

• Depression no

• Lack of concentration my concentration only improved

• Gynecomastia as someone who is of the transgender/two-spirit human basic form, Hurray!

You forgot increased stupidity in areas such as craving a new red sports car.

But I like my red sports car!

-But I also like my recent chat with my American PCP, who was interested in how little HRT could be used to keep by T just in the "normal" range. The real risks of excess T seem very clear to docs now.

It seems that if excess weight is avoided for diabetes risk, a cheerfully low T life has much to recommend. -To state the obvious to many here!

The longer I enjoy my eunuch chemistry, the more it has to offer!

A few points I think I can add

1. I like my little red car too.

2. I was castrated just over 2 years ago. For the first year I didn't take any T. Pretty much went through a lot of the negatives on Kristoff's list for about 6 months. Then my body and mind seemed to adjust and come back to center. Still, even though I didn't gain much weight (totally got lucky there), I couldn't loose what I did gain. Overall. I was very happy with the results.

3. About a year ago I let my Dr. talk me into using a low dose of T as a preventive of some of the negatives. I only use 1 pump a day of a 1% gel. Prior to this my post castration level was 38 and now I am at 97. So I am still well below normal. Got a little bit more energy and lost 5 pounds. Still zero sex drive which I am very happy about.

So my original thought was that a little T isn't such a bad thing but I was also doing very well without it. Now I going to talk to my Dr. about the potential risks and benefits of taking it. I might just go back to no T