Sex Without Sex Urges
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:17 pm
One of the more frequent comments made by those with low testosterone, who have subnormal levels of the hormone either because of a glandular disorder, because they are taking androcur or a similar drug, or because they have gone through orchiectomy; is that they no longer feel sex urges, or simply have no more interest in sex. And, of course, for a considerable number of those with low testosterone levels, that was what they wanted when they opted for chemical or surgical reduction of the hormone--the idea was a reduction of libido. And it seems as though some feel that, since they have no pressing sex urge any longer, their sexual activity has been terminated, perhaps permanently.
But, when you think about it, the urge is really just the motivation to engage in sex. The actual responses and pleasure which people experience, come from sensations that, at least in substantial measure, aren't the result of the effects of testosterone on the body. And a lot of people--not necessarily in the Archive, but in the general population--say that, for them, the desire to engage in sexual activity with someone, is something that they feel even though they may not have strong urges which impel them to it. I can remember becoming interested in a few girls a considerable period of time before puberty. I didn't have any urge to engage in sex with them, but I was attracted to them. And I've read that research in the last few years has shown that young boys and girls are attracted to each other to some extent in the preadolescent period, when they (presumably) aren't actually interested in sex. That is to say, sexual attraction may be part of the human makeup, exclusive of sexual development and high hormone levels.
All of which makes me wonder if the lack of sexual activity among a lot of those with low testosterone, is really largely a matter of conditioning and the acceptance of social or societal expectations, rather than something which is unavoidable because of the low hormone levels. Simply the fact that someone becomes accustomed to engaging in sex when he (or she) feels a strong urge, doesn't mean that a person can't develop a behavior pattern of engaging in sexual activity without feeling the urges which usually instigate sex. And the acts ought to be enjoyable, because the sensations are still there, even if there was no strong arousal beforehand. If the posts I recall reading were accurate, many eunuchs, if not most, can still attain erection, and that's all that's required to make intromission possible. But, even if someone is impotent, there are other tactile elements of sex which can still be engaged in.
Actually, I tend to wonder if the loss of the ability to erect, the atrophy of the penis, and difficulty in reaching orgasm, are simply the result of disuse of the organs involved, rather than something which inevitably is a byproduct of lowered testosterone levels. If someone doesn't feel the urge to engage in sex, he doesn't get involved in sexual activity, and the organs are underutilized in that respect, or aren't used at all. It seems a general principle, that any part of the body which isn't used for its regular purpose, will get "out of tone" and it seems that that is possible with regard to the genitals of someone who isn't engaging in sex. Some of the posts I have read, indicate that the atrophy of the penis occurs because nocturnal erections cease after testosterone levels drop. But, for most individuals, it would seem that the organ can be erected through manual stimulation. Perhaps if somebody followed a regimen of stimulating his organ to erection several times a day, the penis wouldn't atrophy, or wouldn't atrophy as much as appears to be typical.
Anyway, my point is, sexual activity is possible without sex urges, and I would think that someone who wants to engage in sex, could do it, to some extent, regardless of a lack of testosterone. Maybe attitude is as big a barrier to enjoying this sort of thing, as physiological changes are. For those who wanted lower testosterone levels because they wanted to reduce their libido, of course that's their choice, and they may feel more at peace with the world and with themselves in that situation. But I'd think that there are many others who still want to have the fulfillment of engaging in sex, and perhaps are artificially limiting their potential for it.
But, when you think about it, the urge is really just the motivation to engage in sex. The actual responses and pleasure which people experience, come from sensations that, at least in substantial measure, aren't the result of the effects of testosterone on the body. And a lot of people--not necessarily in the Archive, but in the general population--say that, for them, the desire to engage in sexual activity with someone, is something that they feel even though they may not have strong urges which impel them to it. I can remember becoming interested in a few girls a considerable period of time before puberty. I didn't have any urge to engage in sex with them, but I was attracted to them. And I've read that research in the last few years has shown that young boys and girls are attracted to each other to some extent in the preadolescent period, when they (presumably) aren't actually interested in sex. That is to say, sexual attraction may be part of the human makeup, exclusive of sexual development and high hormone levels.
All of which makes me wonder if the lack of sexual activity among a lot of those with low testosterone, is really largely a matter of conditioning and the acceptance of social or societal expectations, rather than something which is unavoidable because of the low hormone levels. Simply the fact that someone becomes accustomed to engaging in sex when he (or she) feels a strong urge, doesn't mean that a person can't develop a behavior pattern of engaging in sexual activity without feeling the urges which usually instigate sex. And the acts ought to be enjoyable, because the sensations are still there, even if there was no strong arousal beforehand. If the posts I recall reading were accurate, many eunuchs, if not most, can still attain erection, and that's all that's required to make intromission possible. But, even if someone is impotent, there are other tactile elements of sex which can still be engaged in.
Actually, I tend to wonder if the loss of the ability to erect, the atrophy of the penis, and difficulty in reaching orgasm, are simply the result of disuse of the organs involved, rather than something which inevitably is a byproduct of lowered testosterone levels. If someone doesn't feel the urge to engage in sex, he doesn't get involved in sexual activity, and the organs are underutilized in that respect, or aren't used at all. It seems a general principle, that any part of the body which isn't used for its regular purpose, will get "out of tone" and it seems that that is possible with regard to the genitals of someone who isn't engaging in sex. Some of the posts I have read, indicate that the atrophy of the penis occurs because nocturnal erections cease after testosterone levels drop. But, for most individuals, it would seem that the organ can be erected through manual stimulation. Perhaps if somebody followed a regimen of stimulating his organ to erection several times a day, the penis wouldn't atrophy, or wouldn't atrophy as much as appears to be typical.
Anyway, my point is, sexual activity is possible without sex urges, and I would think that someone who wants to engage in sex, could do it, to some extent, regardless of a lack of testosterone. Maybe attitude is as big a barrier to enjoying this sort of thing, as physiological changes are. For those who wanted lower testosterone levels because they wanted to reduce their libido, of course that's their choice, and they may feel more at peace with the world and with themselves in that situation. But I'd think that there are many others who still want to have the fulfillment of engaging in sex, and perhaps are artificially limiting their potential for it.
