Pros and cons list

[BillyBlogs (imported)]

Hello folks,

Below is a list that I've compiled that contains all the good and bad things I'm thinking about that will be the consequence of having been gelded. It's probably rather incomplete, so I invite comments, and suggested additions.

Pros and cons for becoming a gelding, in descending order

The bad stuff:

1. Deep Depression.

This is my biggest concern by far. If the black dog came, would it be a visit, or forever?

If a visit, what sort of duration would be reasonable to expect? Am I right in thinking that being chemically sterilised is just a little more severe in this respect, considering the small amount of testosterone, (10% or so?) usually produced by the kidneys(?)

2. HRT management.

Seems to be a bit of a black box. An unknown until after the event. Will I be good to go with no extra testosterone, or not? I sometimes wonder if there is some tell tale that could hint at how a body might respond to HRT.

Presently I think that some low maintenance dose would probably be good, purely from the osteoporosis perspective. I'm already over sixty, and can reasonably expect to hang around for maybe twenty or so more years. I would prefer to not be brittle and crunchy on the inside when I'm eighty, thanks.

Physical appearance changes.

Gaining some extra weight is a worry. I have already put on a few Kilos after quitting smoking. There's family history of heart disease, and fat doesn't help.

The shrinking cock thing is no longer a concern. After all, if it's largely unemployed. (It's just occurred to me, if I do get surgically castrated and a scrotectomy, that'll be the urologists last job. First he will take my nuts, but then he will get the sack, hehe.)

The good stuff:

Medium to deep depression.

This problem stems from a severe conflict between a big sex drive, and an equally big anxiety issue. The anxiety arises from being autistic, and can't really be meaningfully addressed. However, testosterone production can be. A much lowered sex drive would, I hope, result in this constant and horrible conflict fiinally being reduced or, fingers crossed, eliminated.

Some peace and quiet up here in the command centre.

Getting the endless reruns of fantasies, and the perpetual undressing of others in my mind just shutting up for a while, leaving me in peace to get on with whatever needs proper attention would be such a relief.

Volcanic temper eruptions.

These are a severe problem when they happen. Being able to move around in society without these awful and sudden flare ups would be so nice to experience. This is about stupid stuff. Imagined slights and minor inconveniences get turned into a shouting match and a federal case. The only saving grace I currently have is I'm non-violent towards anything alive. Sometimes I think that the anger arises out of feelings of sexual frustration and impotence.

Physical difference.

Does a castrated individual look good? you're darn tootin' they do! So, rather than shying away from the appearance of having no nuts, I'm actually looking forward to that possibility with quite some eagerness. This desire for a smooth line and look has been demoted to bottom of the list though because it's least important now. With one's trousers on, who would know anyhow?

The physical feeling of having no nuts and no flappy sack hanging off the bottom of my torso is just perfect. Temporarily arranging this with a cock ring, or surgical sticky tape feels so good. Fresh air down there, and nothing else. Fabulous feeling indeed. Initially it is kinda sexy, but after a half hour or so, it just feels natural and right.

As I say, comments and suggested additions of things to consider are most welcome. It's probable that this list will grow some. I hope so. I want to try to make the best, most informed decision I can.

Thanks for reading this far,

Billy.

[Valery_V (imported)]

Hello folks,

Below is a list that I've compiled that contains all the good and bad things I'm thinking about that will be the consequence of having been gelded. It's probably rather incomplete, so I invite comments, and suggested additions.

Pros and cons for becoming a gelding, in descending order

The bad stuff:

1. Deep Depression.

This is my biggest concern by far. If the black dog came, would it be a visit, or forever?

If a visit, what sort of duration would be reasonable to expect? Am I right in thinking that being chemically sterilised is just a little more severe in this respect, considering the small amount of testosterone, (10% or so?) usually produced by the kidneys(?)

2. HRT management.

Seems to be a bit of a black box. An unknown until after the event. Will I be good to go with no extra testosterone, or not? I sometimes wonder if there is some tell tale that could hint at how a body might respond to HRT.

Presently I think that some low maintenance dose would probably be good, purely from the osteoporosis perspective. I'm already over sixty, and can reasonably expect to hang around for maybe twenty or so more years. I would prefer to not be brittle and crunchy on the inside when I'm eighty, thanks.

Physical appearance changes.

Gaining some extra weight is a worry. I have already put on a few Kilos after quitting smoking. There's family history of heart disease, and fat doesn't help.

The shrinking cock thing is no longer a concern. After all, if it's largely unemployed. (It's just occurred to me, if I do get surgically castrated and a scrotectomy, that'll be the urologists last job. First he will take my nuts, but then he will get the sack, hehe.)

The good stuff:

Medium to deep depression.

This problem stems from a severe conflict between a big sex drive, and an equally big anxiety issue. The anxiety arises from being autistic, and can't really be meaningfully addressed. However, testosterone production can be. A much lowered sex drive would, I hope, result in this constant and horrible conflict fiinally being reduced or, fingers crossed, eliminated.

Some peace and quiet up here in the command centre.

Getting the endless reruns of fantasies, and the perpetual undressing of others in my mind just shutting up for a while, leaving me in peace to get on with whatever needs proper attention would be such a relief.

Volcanic temper eruptions.

These are a severe problem when they happen. Being able to move around in society without these awful and sudden flare ups would be so nice to experience. This is about stupid stuff. Imagined slights and minor inconveniences get turned into a shouting match and a federal case. The only saving grace I currently have is I'm non-violent towards anything alive. Sometimes I think that the anger arises out of feelings of sexual frustration and impotence.

Physical difference.

Does a castrated individual look good? you're darn tootin' they do! So, rather than shying away from the appearance of having no nuts, I'm actually looking forward to that possibility with quite some eagerness. This desire for a smooth line and look has been demoted to bottom of the list though because it's least important now. With one's trousers on, who would know anyhow?

The physical feeling of having no nuts and no flappy sack hanging off the bottom of my torso is just perfect. Temporarily arranging this with a cock ring, or surgical sticky tape feels so good. Fresh air down there, and nothing else. Fabulous feeling indeed. Initially it is kinda sexy, but after a half hour or so, it just feels natural and right.

As I say, comments and suggested additions of things to consider are most welcome. It's probable that this list will grow some. I hope so. I want to try to make the best, most informed decision I can.

Thanks for reading this far,

Billy.

I did not find - "The man becomes sterile" and I do not know in what section to carry it:

The good stuff or The bad stuff

[BillyBlogs (imported)]

I did not find - "The man becomes sterile" and I do not know in what section to carry it:

The good stuff or The bad stuff

Hm, there's a few things here.

I have never really felt all that comfortable calling myself a man. The nearest I prefer is to use the word 'guy', sort of male-ish, but not a man.

I'm 61. If sterility was ever going to be a problem, that should have been maybe thirty or more years ago.

I'm aware that many men define themselves using the fact they can squirt out happy little tadpoles, But that's not me. Sperm cells may maketh the man, but I don't see myself through that lens.

Thanks for raising the idea though, Valery. Loosing the ability to impregnate someone is a really big deal to a lot of men. I wonder how much of it really is self image, and how much is a fear of loosing that power over a woman's body.

So I think I might open a new section, The couldn't care less section

Billy.

[Valery_V (imported)]

Hm, there's a few things here.

I have never really felt all that comfortable calling myself a man. The nearest I prefer is to use the word 'guy', sort of male-ish, but not a man.

I'm 61. If sterility was ever going to be a problem, that should have been maybe thirty or more years ago.

I'm aware that many men define themselves using the fact they can squirt out happy little tadpoles, But that's not me. Sperm cells may maketh the man, but I don't see myself through that lens.

Thanks for raising the idea though, Valery. Loosing the ability to impregnate someone is a really big deal to a lot of men. I wonder how much of it really is self image, and how much is a fear of loosing that power over a woman's body.

So I think I might open a new section, The couldn't care less section

Billy.

Excuse me, I thought that this is not a specific age group, but more generally ...

[BillyBlogs (imported)]

Excuse me, I thought that this is not a specific age group, but more generally ...

Sorry Valery, I think that's a misunderstanding is all.

What I'm trying to say is I'm just too old to care, and as I have never identified as a man, sterility does not concern me.

[BillyBlogs (imported)]

Just read and re-read the discussion on 'Are Eunuchs Depressed and Suicidal?'

Well, that's answered my questions about castration and depression about as well as one could hope. Disregarding involuntary castration as it wouldn't apply to myself, tell me if I've misunderstood- (I do mean it. Please, tell me, I'm here to learn.)

The relationship between castration and mood isn't well studied or understood.

For some people, there is huge a mood swing following castration. This seems to be due to testosterone being largely suddenly absent, and maybe a strong surge of estrogen. This pretty much always passes, but is of such an intensity that the newly castrated should be ready with some strategy to help keep them safe. This in particular is important to me. Am I correct to think that this 'immediately after castration' bout of depression will pass?

I would like to ask, how long might one expect such an episode to last? I know we're all so variable, but I'd like to get an estimation of the possible ranges of the duration.

Milder, but chronic depression is also the experience of some. This is sometimes well addressed with HRT, but not always. When HRT does help, the depression was obviously caused by hormone imbalance. When it is not helped by HRT, it could be either the matter is more in one's head than one's blood, of maybe the individual doesn't respond well to synthetic hormones. It's hard to tell.

The vast majority of people who have taken plenty of time, and made careful, well though out decisions are now much happier than they were prior to castration.

If you think any of the above isn't correct, please step in and say so.

In trying to get a feel for how much depression has been a feature of different peoples experience, I am feeling more encouraged than not.

I am starting to consider opening a dialogue with my doctor with respect to a trial chemical castration. Part of this dialogue will have to be around some support system or other strategy for managing depression if it comes.

My worries seem smaller this evening than they were this morning.

[TopManFL (imported)]

There are many threads on here about physical castration and its effects.

To address your concerns about T levels, after physical castration you will be far more in charge of those levels. exactly as you said, there are many bad effects. However, using a testosterone gel, you can get your T levels to exactly where they work best. Two pumps a day is the normal dose for testosterone gel. However, you can go to one pump or even one pump every other day. It's not difficult to remember when to put the gel on if you use the day of the month as a guide. For example, one pump on days that are evenly divisible by four. The other choice is testosterone injections. However, with injections, you don't have the granularity that you would with the gel. Also, the gel can be adjusted day to day. If you are having a bad day with your libido or temper, you can simply not put the gel on that day. With injections, you don't have much of an option but to ride it out and adjust the next injection. Also, injections are normally done at the doctor's office (although some guys do it at home).

HTH and always YMMV

TMFL

[seanthomas (imported)]

First, I would imagine that someone with a history of depression could be susceptible after castration and hormonal changes. On the other hand if sexual frustration has been a cause then getting castrated (without TRT) would alleviate that source. As far as physical changes they are not that noticeable. Yes, most men gain a bit of weight but it's controllable. Other physical changes are not that bad yet some like myself develop gynecomastia and that can happen with or without TRT. As far as the appearance of the genitalia if the scrotum is left intact it doesn't look much different empty. Once mine was removed I find it not only far more comfortable but aesthetically much better than a hairy sack, empty or not.

What I enjoy most about not having testicles (or testosterone) is the steady, calm feeling. I also like that I control my sex life rather than having testosterone control me. It's so much more comfortable to walk, sit and cross my legs. No more embarrassing "flashes" when I wear short and no underwear. I like that my wife likes it not only aesthetically but the control it provides over her sex life.

I was not a voluntary Eunuch having had dead testicles removed due to recurrent torsions from a congenital defect. However, there has not been a day since surgery that I have missed my balls.

[JesusA (imported)]

On the first (and largest) survey that we ran on the EA community, we asked questions related to self-reported depression. What we found was that the number of individuals who reported depression were the same both before and after castration. Who they were changed! Some of those depressed before castration reported improvement. Some who were not depressed before reported, sometimes serious, depression afterwards. It is a clear case of YMWV. Depression, though, is something to be seriously concerned about. Castration may help you with it; it may drop you into severe depression. We found nothing in the survey results to indicate what would happen to any individual.

[BillyBlogs (imported)]

Thanks for your thoughts there, TopMan,

Your description of how easy manipulating mood through the application of some gel is very encouraging. For myself, I think I'm gradually heading towards becoming at least in my mind, asexual.

Recently the sex drive flared up in a really big way again. It does this from time to time. Usually strong and long enough after the last bout that the urge blinds me to how things worked out previously.

Anyway, I had been thinking abut engaging the services of a rent man, as I'm not very practised at the "marital arts" (hehe). But I know what will happen. I'll get ready, then go out to the car. By now I will have butterflies in my belly, but for the time being they will be flying in formation at least. From here on in, the tension and anxiety will build. By the time I've traveled maybe twenty minutes, I will be having chest palpitations, and I'll be so mentally distressed that even if I did try to follow through, it would not be anything like the pleasurable experience I wanted.

Maybe I'd like to be able to turn the testosterone levels up and down a bit purely for my own private pleasure. I think I'd miss orgasms if they died out completely, at least at first. My suspicions are that it wouldn't take too much time before I just let all that problematic sex stuff just fade away.

Ooh, acronyms. HTH & YMMV?

OK, your mileage may vary is the second.