It's been over three years since my orchiectomy, done by Dr. Reed in Florida as part of my attempt to transition from male to female. Since that time, I have decided not to pursue any more gender-changing procedures (though I've also had some facial plastic surgery) and am now content to just be a sort of androgynous person.

Physically, I have changed a lot. I do take estrogen now, but wasn't able to for some time after surgery because I developed severe migraines and chronic fatigue. My body hair reduced, I regrew a little hair at the corner of my hairline (though I hadn't been going bald, I did have a tiny bit of recession) and I both lost a lot of muscle and gained a lot of weight. I had a lot of side effects from the lack of any kind of hormones. Hot flashes, night sweats, problems sleeping, and severe mood swings along with crushing fatigue. Without estrogen, my life would be a wreck since it's the only thing that makes me feel normal now.

I don't regret my surgery, and would say I am content. That being said, as always, I suggest EXTREME caution to anyone considering getting this done. You will most likely be dependent on artificial hormones for the rest of your life, especially if you are young (I was 24) and want to keep your bone mass and avoid unpleasant symptoms. I do still have a sex drive, but it's less than before. I wouldn't recommend this kind of surgery to anyone seeking to fulfill some kind of sexual fetish, since you'll most likely end up defeating the purpose of it.

Do you believe that having it done at a relatively early age might have made of more complications.. .A man your age has very high T levels and the sudden loss might be more sever than in an older man. How much weight have you gained? are you taking any steps to maintain muscle tone?

I think that a castrated man is transgendered, not to the extent of a fully transgendered person, but a eunuch is transgendered in that they are not the sex they were, not even if they use hormones. I have not been the same since my castration, I'm better.

I have also always thought that testosterone played/plays a role in driving men to become transgendered. I cannot substantiate this factually, but many transgendered men, once castrated, no longer pursue further transgender surgery. Why? Didn't their castration remove the primary source of testosterone, which in turn shut down their desire to change further? It's an interesting subject, isn't it? Hash

I don't think testosterone or lack of testosterone had anything to do with my changing my transition plans. I think that is probably the case with a lot of really fetishistic transitioners (intense crossdressers who decide to undergo SRS) but my transition was never about that. Rather, I came to the conclusion that, physically, I couldn't cut it as a woman; I would always be read as a transsexual. Also, there are certain things I like about being a guy.....I didn't want to box myself in to one gender or another, and am kind of happy where I am at now. In addition, I just can't afford all the surgeries and treatments needed. Anyway, I didn't cease my transition plans until 3 years AFTER my surgery.

I was 24 when I had my surgery. My pre-op T levels weren't all that high. I don't know if my reaction was really severe; I've known many people who had pretty bad depression and fatigue after surgery. As long as I am on HRT (estrogen) I feel ok. I've gained about 50 pounds, but some of that is from stopping smoking and becoming very will with severe, chronic migraines. It's definitely harder to lose weight now, but I've managed to drop about 27 pounds through diet and exercise.

RJLupin (imported) wrote: Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:51 am and am now content to just be a sort of androgynous person.

That's what I'm aiming for.

...

RJLupin (imported) wrote: Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:51 am fatigue. Without estrogen, my life would be a wreck since it's the only thing that makes me feel normal now.

That's one thing I've noticed now: my mood and energy levels a much improved with estrogen and I just don't feel right w/o it.

Hash (imported) wrote: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:32 am I think that a castrated man is transgendered, not to the extent of a fully transgendered person, but a eunuch is transgendered in that they are not the sex they were, not even if they use hormones. I have not been the same since my castration, I'm better.

I have also always thought that testosterone played/plays a role in driving men to become transgendered. I cannot substantiate this factually, but many transgendered men, once castrated, no longer pursue further transgender surgery. Why? Didn't their castration remove the primary source of testosterone, which in turn shut down their desire to change further? It's an interesting subject, isn't it? Hash

Jesus would be a good person to chime in right now. When my hormones were low my ability to complete anything was zero. And lets face it just getting my Orchialgia taken care of surgicaly has been a more then difficult task so I'm not all that surprised that people with castrate levels of hormones are having trouble moving forward on anything.

Hash, I think you have an interesting thought on what motivates men to seek transition. Odd levels of hormones do change the way we think, feel and operate. Maybe there is a level where a man starts to feel pangs that motivate him to become her? I frankly would not be surprised that this was a serious factor. Jesus and I have a friend who has been forced to take androgen blockers and use Estrogen and he has reported a number of changes in how he looks at the opposite sex for example.

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mrt (imported) wrote: Sat Sep 01, 2007 6:33 pm Estrogen and he has reported a number of changes in how he looks at the opposite sex for example.

"

I notice that when I'm on estrogen my homosexual desires increase a lot and the rare attraction to females I sometimes exhibit just about disappear. Since I'll be starting to taking estrogen again soon I hope this doesn't fuck with my relationship with my girlfriend (I still can't believed I fell in love with a female... lol... never saw that coming).

Tanglog,

So you haven't told her yet about yourself. Will you choose love over estrogen use? What if she doesn't want you to use estrogen?

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Hash (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:29 am So you haven't told her yet about yourself.

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She knows absolutely everything about me. I don't think I've ever been this close to anyone before.

And as for estrogen she said: "You want to try estrogen? Go for it! lol, I couldn't believe you thought that would matter to me!"

She must be special, hang on to her.