Unexpected effects of castration

[eunuch2001 (imported)]

A few months after castration, when my body had adjusted to its improved state, I found I no longer enjoyed sweet or salty food. I don't know if this was merely a coincidence, or if my taste-buds altered as a result of hormonal changes. I stopped taking sugar in beverages, almost never now eat cakes, biscuits or pastries, and never use salt when cooking, nor could I eat a bag of salted crisps. A real bonus was that having achieved my goal of castration I became more confident, less anxious, and quit smoking cigarettes.

Has anyone shared these experiences, or maybe could offer an explanation?

[transward (imported)]

A few months after castration, when my body had adjusted to its improved state, I found I no longer enjoyed sweet or salty food. I don't know if this was merely a coincidence, or if my taste-buds altered as a result of hormonal changes. I stopped taking sugar in beverages, almost never now eat cakes, biscuits or pastries, and never use salt when cooking, nor could I eat a bag of salted crisps. A real bonus was that having achieved my goal of castration I became more confident, less anxious, and quit smoking cigarettes.

Has anyone shared these experiences, or maybe could offer an explanation?

My experience is with blockers and estrogen among a lot of trans people I know and, of course, myself. I notice few real changes in taste. Quite a few report feeling they were more sensitive in taste, but, eating out with them after meetings, I didn't see the changes in behavior they self reported, so I am a bit skeptical. I didn't notice any great change, but, as a prof. cook I live by my taste buds, so I was probably more sensitive than average before I transitioned. (A friend once joked that if I was a SOB, my mother must have been a bloodhound.) Some days I think I might have a bit more sensitive taste but I am a sucker for a good placebo, so I am just not sure. So it is possible that your taste buds have become a bit sharper. But a couple of other things could be working. One, when you were castrated you inner furnace was turned down a bit. You will burn less calories than you would under the influence of T. Hopefully your appetite will go down to compensate. If it doesn't your weight will go up sharply. (I have seen a number of trans people who, after doing hormones and blockers, continued to eat as they did as a male, only to see their weight skyrocket, which can be very hard on an already shaky ego.) A second possibility is that if your self image has changed your behavior may well change to line up with that new self image even without conscious effort on your part. There is a style of eating that is very characteristically male. There is a show on the Food Channel where a couple of manly men go around the country and try to eat the most insanely hot food they can find. We get close ups of the sweat and tears on their face. I can't see very many women (or eunuchs) doing that. Men boldly salt and pepper their food much more than most women. Beer and potato chips are almost a ritual of manhood. Your taste may just be lining up with your new self image.

Transward

[eunuch2001 (imported)]

. You will burn less calories than you would under the influence of T. Hopefully your appetite will go down to compensate. If it doesn't your weight will go up sharply.

Transward

Good point - my appetite did reduce as my T level dropped. My weight and waist size haven't changed in the eleven years since I was liberated from my testicles. I enjoy food. Unlike you I'm not a professional chef, but I'm a very keen amateur. I've been studying the art of French cooking for the last three years but I keep the portions small!

[Dave (imported)]

Is is possible you are tasting food differently because you quit smoking cigarettes?

[zeebster (imported)]

Well I'm not going to hypothesize that the change in hormone levels caused the change in your perception of taste.

All I can do is to relate my experience. In my case I was chemically castrated for six months before having the surgical procedure three months ago. I noticed no difference in how things tasted nor a change in how much sugar I used (a bit in my coffee) or salt which I do not add to anything during the chemical castration or after the surgery.

I quit smoking a month ago, that DEFINITELY changed how things taste and that is a pretty well known occurence when one quits smoking, I'm with Dave....

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

Well, if you don't have the will power, Nicorette gum, hypnosis and The Patch don't work and you still really want to quit smoking, there's always castration.

[_g (imported)]

Well, if you don't have the will power, Nicorette gum, hypnosis and The Patch don't work and you still really want to quit smoking, there's always castration.

I don't think castration will cause anyone to quit smoking, THE Person HAS TO WANT to quit. There have been smokers even though is life or death continue to smoke.

_g

[eunuch2001 (imported)]

Is is possible you are tasting food differently because you quit smoking cigarettes?

I hadn't even considered that possibility and I suspect you're right.

[Paolo]

When I quit smoking real cigarettes, my senses of taste and smell both changed and improved.

I can do without the better sense of smell, though.

[eunuch2001 (imported)]

I can do without the better sense of smell, though.

A few days after I quit smoking I realised that some of my clothes, and fabrics in my home, stank of smoke. The local dry-cleaners made a small fortune out of me that week!