I mentioned this briefly in another thread, but I want to expand on it a little bit here and see if this is something anyone else has experienced.

When I don’t take any HRT (either E or T), I seem to have big problems with constipation. Bowel movements are more difficult, infrequent, and produce much smaller amounts of stool.

I also often have bleeding during bowel movements without HRT.

I told my doctor about it, and she insisted I needed to be seen by a specialist because of the bleeding. She didn’t seem to believe that hormones had anything to do with it.

However, when I take either E or T, I don’t have this problem. Bowel movements seem much more normal, and I haven’t had a single occurrence of blood since I started taking T several months ago.

I’ve been getting the same adequate fiber intake both with and without HRT, so it doesn’t seem that would be the issue.

Has anyone ever heard of constipation or bleeding during bowel movements being associated with low levels of sex hormones? Have any eunuchs not taking HRT had that experience themselves?

plix (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:33 am Has anyone ever heard of constipation or bleeding during bowel movements being associated with low levels of sex hormones? Have any eunuchs not taking HRT had that experience themselves?

Yes, while not on HRT I had frequent bouts of "rabbit turds". However, these bouts continued after E and P and are always sorted by Metamucil and ample hydration. Now hard stool can rip the lining of the anus and cause bleeding. If the blood is thin and bright red it's most likely caused by trauma to the a-hole. If the blood is clotted and dark then the bleeding occurs higher in the bowels and definitely needs to be checked out by your doctor.

plix (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:33 am Has anyone ever heard of constipation or bleeding during bowel movements being associated with low levels of sex hormones? Have any eunuchs not taking HRT had that experience themselves?

I am a full eunuch from young age of 19.5 years. Very seldom accepted testosterone. Never accepted estrogen. I never had problems with defecation.

Perhaps more olive oil, or the like in your diet, and less fiber? Find something you like that "goes right through"?

Try a stool softener. Available cheap at any pharmacy and most Target stores.

That can be a real problem. Doubt it had anything to do with hormones unless the thyroid was somehow affected. That should, I think, result in weight gain. I never used to have the problem but then did. I believe that may have been related to being on a beta blocker for afib. Having come off that it seems to have resolved.

I second the stool softener recommendation. I usually take a couple each day.Milk of Magnesia is also quite effective. Fiber in the diet is also a good idea. If you can’t correct it through most home remedies, I would want a medical opinion. You wouldn’t want colon cancer. A colonoscopy is no picnic but it is done routinely and the prep is the worst part. Good luck.

During a breakfast surely I eat one apple.

During the day I eat tomatoes and other vegetables.

Thanks so much to all for sharing your thoughts and advice!

seanthomas (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:55 am Yes, while not on HRT I had frequent bouts of "rabbit turds". However, these bouts continued after E and P and are always sorted by Metamucil and ample hydration. Now hard stool can rip the lining of the anus and cause bleeding. If the blood is thin and bright red it's most likely caused by trauma to the a-hole. If the blood is clotted and dark then the bleeding occurs higher in the bowels and definitely needs to be checked out by your doctor.

It's nice to know that, even if constipation in eunuchs isn't common, I'm not the only one who has ever experienced it. The blood was bright red, so it's probably nothing to worry about too much (though who knows what the long-te

Paolo wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 11:16 am rm effects of continued "trauma" of that sort would be).

Perhaps more olive oil, or the like in your diet, and less

fiber? Find something you like that "goes right

kristoff wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 11:40 am through"?

I use olive oil about twice a week when cooking. I'm not sure if th

at is enough though.

Try a stool softener. Available cheap at any pharmacy and most Target stores.

My doctor prescribed a stool softener to me - polyethylene glycol. My pharmacy told me I can get it over the counter but that it would be cheaper to get through them, so

Boogie77 (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:20 pm I got the prescribed version. It definitely helped a lot! I haven't had much of a need to use it lately but still keep it on hand just in case.

That can be a real problem. Doubt it had anything to do with hormones unless the thyroid was somehow affected. That should, I think, result in weight gain. I never used to have the problem but then did. I believe that may have been related to being on a beta blocker for afib. Having come off that it seems to have resolved.

I second the stool softener recommendation. I usually take a couple each day.Milk of Magnesia is also quite effective. Fiber in the diet is also a good idea. If you can’t correct it through most home remedies, I would want a m

edical opinion. You wouldn’t want colon cancer. A colonoscopy is no picnic but it is done routinely and the prep is the worst part. Good luck.

I did have one of my thyroid tests come back slightly low. I can't remember which one for sure, but I think it was something like T3 uptake percentage. However, my doctor didn't seem to be worried about it, and my other thyroid tests were within the normal range. I know that one of the medications I take can potentially alter thyroid functioning, but I take a very low dose, so I don't think it would cause too much of a problem.

I only took my stool softener no more than once or twice a week because it says on the bottle to only use it occasionally. Do a lot of people use stool softeners on a regular basis without issue?

plix (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:56 pm Thanks so much to all for sharing your thoughts and advice!

It's nice to know that, even if constipation in eunuchs isn't common, I'm not the only one who has ever experienced it. The blood was bright red, so it's probably nothing to worry about too much (though who knows what the long-te

rm effects of continued "trauma" of that sort would be).

I use olive oil about twice a week when cooking. I'm not sure if that is enough though.

plix (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:56 pm My doctor prescribed a stool softener to me - polyethylene glycol. My pharmacy told me I can get it over the counter but that it would be cheaper to get through them, so

I got the prescribed version. It definitely helped a lot! I haven't had much of a need to use it lately but still keep it on hand just in case.

plix (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:56 pm I did have one of my thyroid tests come back slightly low. I can't remember which one for sure, but I think it was something like T3 uptake percentage. However, my doctor didn't seem to be worried about it, and my other thyroid tests were within the normal range. I know that one of the medications I take can potentially alter thyroid functioning, but I take a very low dose, so I don't think it would cause too much of a problem.

I only took my stool softener no more than once or twice a week because it says on the bottle to only use it occasionally. Do a lot of people use stool softeners on a regular basis without issue?

I'm not surprised at the propylene glycol - it is frequently used in medicines to "grease the skids," as it were. It is also the lubricant that is used in anti-freeze - makes it flow better. I was taking some medicines which tended to bind me up a lot. I took stool softeners every day while I was on that stuff. Things got rather loose, so don't use it that often. Can cause problems if used too much. Good luck.

plix (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:56 pm Thanks so much to all for sharing your thoughts and advice!

It's nice to know that, even if constipation in eunuchs isn't common, I'm not the only one who has ever experienced it. The blood was bright red, so it's probably nothing to worry about t

kristoff wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 6:04 pm oo much (though who knows what the long-te

rm effects of continued "trauma" of that sort would be).

I use olive oil about twice a week w

hen cooking. I'm not sure if that is enough though.

plix (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:56 pm My doctor prescribed a stool softener to me - polyethylene glycol. My pharm

kristoff wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 6:04 pm acy told me I can get it over the counter but that it would be cheaper to get through them, so

I got the prescribed version. It definitel

y helped a lot! I haven't had much of a need to use it lately but still keep it on hand just in case.

plix (imported) wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:56 pm I did have one of my thyroid tests come back slightly low. I can't remember which one for sure, but I think it was something like T3 uptake percentage. However, my doctor didn't seem to be worried about it, and my other thyroid tests were within the normal range. I know that one of the medications I take can potentially alter thyroid functioning, but I take a very low dose, so I don't think it would cause too much of a problem.

I only took my stool softener no more than once or twice a week because it says on the bottle to only use it occasionally. Do a lot of people use stool softeners on a regular basis without issue?

I usually use a couple of tablets a day. I was informed by the hospital “problem nurse” that using a stool softener is not a problem. Using a laxative more than occasionally is not a good idea.

If you want some quick action an enema is probably the fastest but if the stool is impacted then you may have to manually extract it. Yes, with your fingers. Yuck!! Not a pleasant thing to do but it is a last resort before going to the emergency room.

Milk of magnesia (I recommend cherry flavored) works very well. Also suppositories will clean you out as well. I was told by a nurse that mineral oil works well. I didn’t find that it worked for me, however.

Miralax is said to work but not immediately. Then there is Dulcolax that is used for the prep for a colonoscopy. They have to have the colon completely clear to check for possible cancer. I have had about four of them. Twice they found small polyps that had to be removed. They are pre cancerous. So long as the polyps don’t get out of the colon walls it won’t metastasize beyond the colon. If it is cancer the affected part of the colon can be removed and stitched back together. If it extensive the colon may be removed and that requires the colostomy bag. I don’t think you are anywhere close to that at your age.

I’d bet the farm that you have hemorrhoids. The presence of bright red blood almost guarantees that. I’ve had them for years but since they haven’t gotten worse I have never had the swollen veins removed. This is quite common. The fact that you have constipation almost guarantees you have them. But to be sure see the appropriate doctor who works in this field. I am not a doctor but only giving my layman’s opinion based on personal experience and googling the subject.