What is the biggest thing stopping you?

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

These are going to be some big questions, which I'm really hoping for serious answers about.

BACKSTORY:

Over the past few weeks, some posts about cheap surgery available in Thailand really got me thinking. I'll be honest, although I have known since I was a teenager that my guy parts felt "wrong" to me, and that I really feel like I'd be much more comfortable without them, I haven't been serious about it in years. But following that topic, I really started thinking, realizing just how easy it would be to fly over there and actually follow through with my dream of replacing my guy parts with a "mangina" if I really wanted to. I started really thinking about it again, really looking at internet posts about it, really doing my research. There is so much information out there now that wasn't there in 2001-2002, the last time that I was really serious about this, that it was amazing. Suddenly I started having extremely vivid dreams on the topic, dreams where I felt "right" for the first time, and the more I researched about it, the more I realized that I really did want it, and I really would be more comfortable with it. And I realized that most of the reservations I had weren't so much based on what I myself wanted, they were based on being afraid of what others would think.

THE QUESTION (for the uncut):

So here's a serious question for everyone who truly believes that they want to either be castrated, penectomized, or have the opposite gender's genitals like me. I'm just asking out of curiosity: What is the number one concern that is holding you back from actually doing it?

1. Not sure if you really want it or not?

2. Financial? (can't afford it / don't want to spend that much money)

3. Afraid that you won't like it afterward, and will be stuck unhappy with it forever?

4. Afraid of surgical complications?

5. Afraid of after-effects? (things like tiredness, osteoperosis, and possibly having to take hormones afterward.)

6. Reproduction? (still want kids)

7. Sexual concerns? (still want sex, afraid change would destroy that)

8. Family concerns? (Afraid of what your family would think, and couldn't imagine explaining it to them.)

9. Social concerns? (Afraid of what others would think, don't want to be judged.)

10. Other reason not mentioned here.

11. None of the above. I'm doing it. All I need is a place to do it and the money to pay for it.

ALTERNATE QUESTION (for the cut):

Q p1.) Before you had it done, what was your #1 concern?

Q p2.) Did that concern prove to be true or not once it was over?

Q p3.) (if you really feel like being a friend and answering:)) How in the world were you able to tell the people you love about it? (THIS is the issue that is tearing me up inside, making me feel so confused.)

Again, I'm just hoping to see what other people's thoughts on the matter are, and hopefully gain some insight into my own situation through the wisdom of others.

[Eunuchus (imported)]

My answer is #2 and #10 I have injected alcohol to the point where my T levels are manageable. I don't know if it will stay that way though.

[foxytaur (imported)]

Number 2 and 8. Family wise i care bout my fathers reaction.

My dad knows I'm Bi(pansexual) but he'd be devastated id want to be trans

I could give a rats ass about my mom. If she were to run in front of a bus, and I know she's capable of doing it and in the process killing herself, I think I'd smile to that.(im not bullshitting btw, as harsh as it may seem it's true)

NB = My dad has already hinted that my mom is emasculating him

Cuckolding is soo common these days with couples ain't it? P

[SplitDik (imported)]

3 and 5 for me. I think those are close to the same thing actually. By theway, I think it is possible to make am actual poll on the forum where it will count up the responses.

[baldwin92 (imported)]

Number two for me and in my case difficulty in traveling. If a doctor in my home town was available it would change things.

[Losethem (imported)]

ALTERNATE QUESTION (for the cut):

Q p1.) Before you had it done, what was your #1 concern?

Q p2.) Did that concern prove to be true or not once it was over?

Q p3.) (if you really feel like being a friend and answering:)) How in the world were you able to tell the people you love about it? (THIS is the issue that is tearing me up inside, making me feel so confused.)

P1 - Wasn't really worried about it other than it being done safely.

P2 - Did not apply to my situation

P3 - I never told them. It's not like any of them will see me naked and my balls were so big that it left enough "material" down there that people say I don't look castrated.

--LT

[Slammr (imported)]

Definitely #5 for me.

If not for that, I would no longer have balls. When I was younger less libido would have probably been beneficial. I definitely thought with the little head at times, when I should have been using the other one, but age has taken care of that. My most potent sex organ, now, is my brain.

I'm using Dutasteride to combat DHT, and with that, and I'm pretty comfortable with my current testosterone levels, even though I don't know what those levels are. I seldom get physically horny without mental stimulation, but I can easily get physically aroused pretty well any time I want.

[Elizabeth (imported)]

These are going to be some big questions, which I'm really hoping for serious answers about.

BACKSTORY:

Over the past few weeks, some posts about cheap surgery available in Thailand really got me thinking. I'll be honest, although I have known since I was a teenager that my guy parts felt "wrong" to me, and that I really feel like I'd be much more comfortable without them, I haven't been serious about it in years. But following that topic, I really started thinking, realizing just how easy it would be to fly over there and actually follow through with my dream of replacing my guy parts with a "mangina" if I really wanted to. I started really thinking about it again, really looking at internet posts about it, really doing my research. There is so much information out there now that wasn't there in 2001-2002, the last time that I was really serious about this, that it was amazing. Suddenly I started having extremely vivid dreams on the topic, dreams where I felt "right" for the first time, and the more I researched about it, the more I realized that I really did want it, and I really would be more comfortable with it. And I realized that most of the reservations I had weren't so much based on what I myself wanted, they were based on being afraid of what others would think.

THE QUESTION (for the uncut):

So here's a serious question for everyone who truly believes that they want to either be castrated, penectomized, or have the opposite gender's genitals like me. I'm just asking out of curiosity: What is the number one concern that is holding you back from actually doing it?

1. Not sure if you really want it or not?

If one is not absolutely sure about this, I mean inside and out, don't do it!

2. Financial? (can't afford it / don't want to spend that much money)

While many people advocate that "where there is a will there is a way", this simply is not the case. There are those who truly can not put together the money to do this.

3. Afraid that you won't like it afterward, and will be stuck unhappy with it forever?

Again, this would be the same as the first one. If one is not absolutely sure that this is who they are, then one should not proceed.

4. Afraid of surgical complications?

This is a legitimate fear and happens more often than people would like to believe. There are many transsexuals out there with permanent pain and disfiguring scars. Sometimes it just happens, other times it's incompetence.

5. Afraid of after-effects? (things like tiredness, osteoperosis, and possibly having to take hormones afterward.)

Also a real fear and something that should be considered. Not all these stories have happy endings. There is no way to predict how any individual will respond.

6. Reproduction? (still want kids)

This is similar to the first question and comes under the heading of making sure this is not just some passing fancy or a sexual urge. During hurricanes in Florida, several sperm banks lost power and irreplaceable banked sperm. If one has their testicles removed, one should plan on never fathering any more children.

7. Sexual concerns? (still want sex, afraid change would destroy that)

Many pre-op transsexuals kid themselves about this one, thinking they are going to still be able to reach orgasm after surgery. However, I have yet to meet one in person that can reach orgasm. I know they say that 20% can, but I have not seen it yet.

8. Family concerns? (Afraid of what your family would think, and couldn't imagine explaining it to them.)

If you fear what family thinks, you for sure are not ready to go through with this. One has to learn to live for themselves first.

9. Social concerns? (Afraid of what others would think, don't want to be judged.)

And if you care what strangers think, you are worse off than number eight above. You have to be ok with yourself before one can proceed with this. That means only caring what you think, not what others think.

10. Other reason not mentioned here.

I could fill this space with ten pages, but really it all comes down to question number one.

11. None of the above. I'm doing it. All I need is a place to do it and the money to pay for it.

It may not be that easy. Some have medical reasons that prevent them from such surgery, and for others money will be a real barrier. But if you are ready to tell everyone to fuck off and live for yourself? You are probably ready.

ALTERNATE QUESTION (for the cut):

Q p1.) Before you had it done, what was your #1 concern?

Q p2.) Did that concern prove to be true or not once it was over?

Q p3.) (if you really feel like being a friend and answering:)) How in the world were you able to tell the people you love about it? (THIS is the issue that is tearing me up inside, making me feel so confused.)

Again, I'm just hoping to see what other people's thoughts on the matter are, and hopefully gain some insight into my own situation through the wisdom of others.

I kinda filled in the blanks, but my overall point is that one really does need to make sure this is who they are, not just something they want or fantasize about.

Elizabeth

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

^As always, a very excellent rational post. Great to have some perspective thrown in to this.

I do have a question, though, in regards to this reply:

I have yet to meet one in person that can reach orgasm. I know they say that 20% can, but I have not seen it yet.

Seriously? Because every single study that I have ever looked at said that this figure is at least 60%, with many claiming as high as 85% to 95% from certain surgeons with the most advanced techniques. Plus a lot of the post-op accounts that I have read actually reported BETTER orgasms than before the change. I hope I'm not being a pill here, but I find it hard to believe that surgical techniques which preserve a portion of the glans, as well as the nerves attached to it, are unable to produce orgasms when I've heard numerous accounts of completely castrated and penectomized men still being able to reach orgasm.

[foxytaur (imported)]

If I were truly suffering from harry benjamin symptoms and disliked what nature gave me , then surgery is on the list but it's not. As a person with a mixed gender identity I don't see surgery as an option at all.

Bringing your inner true self is about being yourself. I agree it can take yrs for a person to socially and mentally reach a true conclusion about who they want to be. To those who can reach a conclusion quicker than others. Congrats, you made it to the finish line!!!. I am happy for you.

I still got some quirks to settle on my own to even the score so to speak

I'm still a little meeehhh on the whole penectomy side of things but thats more like a combination of fetishm and a bit of anger towards some aspects of my male side (secondary characteristics , social aspects and expectations as a male that agitate me somwhat but never did I hate my balls for example and no I don't desire a pussy. I view my asshole as my pussy thank you very much)

The hrt is for certain what I want to pursue and I think once I let go from remaining entirely along the male spectrum side of things and find my balance I'll learn to love my dick.Don't care if it stays floppy cause I don't use it anyways asides from manual fapping lol.(being passive and all)

The facial hair, chest hair, male muscles, fear of acquiring a brow ridge, very square chin, and everything else thats secondary characteristic of a male has got to go)

My niece who's a yr younger than me is a complete tomboy and I envy seeing her walk around carefree like that. make me sad cause i want to be femmy and boyish like that too.

Friends have told me whether I was I femboi or not.

I told them I take it up a notch from being a femboy. It's definetly trans. Though not a very strong class 4 or 5 for example.

One of my furry buds came back from montreal from her GRS surgery and should almost make a full recovery soon. she's been on her bed the past 2 onths and initially was in pain (taking perkosats and heavy drugs to aleviate the discomfort)

I will be discussing with her when she gets back and also I have an appointment soon with my local lgbt friendly clinic here in winnipeg so we'll see how it goes. I sent them an email last week and need to hear from them. I think delay has something to do with it being Xmas season.

I swear if my older sister can't make it to the clinic with me I'll be dissapoint.(grumbles)

NB = Dammit why can't the human race be completely hermaphrodite?!! LMAO

[nutme248 (imported)]

Numbers 3 and 5.

Would like my balls gone for a smooth look down below however fear low T symptoms like depression , fatigue, weight gain.

Dave in Ohio (now)

[Riverwind (imported)]

After a few years it really doesn't make any difference, just last week I saw a Physical Therapist for the first time at the VA, we were talking about my weight, and I said I gained 30 lbs after quitting smoking and 100 after castration. Then I added phantom pains also happen when castrated. She took it right in stride.

River

[Peter47-NL (imported)]

These are going to be some big questions, which I'm really hoping for serious answers about.

And I realized that most of the reservations I had weren't so much based on what I myself wanted, they were based on being afraid of what others would think.

THE QUESTION (for the uncut):

So here's a serious question for everyone who truly believes that they want to either be castrated, penectomized, or have the opposite gender's genitals like me. I'm just asking out of curiosity: What is the number one concern that is holding you back from actually doing it?

1. Not sure if you really want it or not?

2. Financial? (can't afford it / don't want to spend that much money)

3. Afraid that you won't like it afterward, and will be stuck unhappy with it forever?

4. Afraid of surgical complications?

5. Afraid of after-effects? (things like tiredness, osteoperosis, and possibly having to take hormones afterward.)

6. Reproduction? (still want kids)

7. Sexual concerns? (still want sex, afraid change would destroy that)

8. Family concerns? (Afraid of what your family would think, and couldn't imagine explaining it to them.)

9. Social concerns? (Afraid of what others would think, don't want to be judged.)

10. Other reason not mentioned here.

11. None of the above. I'm doing it. All I need is a place to do it and the money to pay for it.

Very good questions Cheetaking!

For me it is about a castration, which is a less drastic operation, also for the way I would look after the operation.

My points are # 1 and # 2. For me is # 1 related to # 5. I'm not so afraid about what others will think. I would hardly tell anybody and I'm not afraid of going to a nudist camping, and so forth. Probably people would not notice it and when they notice it there is a lot of respect for all the variations in how people's naked bodies look and there are many good reasons to be castrated, among others medical reasons.

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

So I'm the only person here who isn't doing it because I'm worried about what my family and friends would think? (My mom really wants grandkids, and I love playing nude volleyball with my dad, and as such I would be too embarrassed to explain it to them, even though I really feel like I want it. And my girlfriend really wants sex even though I don't, so I'd feel bad getting rid of it because of that too.)

God, maybe Elizabeth's right, maybe I really haven't learned to live for myself yet. But then again, it's not a surprise. I've always been a coward when it comes to standing up for myself. I'd still just rather back down and give up rather than even attempting an argument, I feel TERRIBLE when I do anything that hurts or offends anyone, and I've noticed that while others immediately feel a sense of vengeance when someone does something wrong to them, I tend to feel sorry for the person that did the crime, thinking of how terrible the circumstances must have been that drove them to do that thing in the first place, or having sympathy on them for making a mistake. Someone broke my car window and I didn't even feel right pressing charges, someone killed a friend of mine's boyfriend through drunk driving by crashing into a crowd during a music festival, and while my friends on Facebook were all posting things like "whatever he gets is too good for him," and "15 years? After killing two people? Come on, that's not enough," I STILL felt sorry for the driver, and felt bad that he was getting any prison time.

You know, I'm realizing more and more that I really am like the characters in my stories. My entire life, I have suppressed my transsexual desires because I didn't want to offend anybody. Because of that, I stopped wearing the clothes that I wanted, I stopped shaving my legs even though I loved doing it, I started looking to God for help to get over my "problem" at many points in my life (which is why it took me so long to join this site,) and I have never even mentioned it to a single one of my friends or family members because I'm afraid of what they'd think, and afraid that I'd be shunned and teased about it.

[foxytaur (imported)]

So I'm the only person here who isn't doing it because I'm worried about what my family and friends would think? (My mom really wants grandkids, and I love playing nude volleyball with my dad, and as such I would be too embarrassed to explain it to them, even though I really feel like I want it. And my girlfriend really wants sex even though I don't, so I'd feel bad getting rid of it because of that too.)

God, maybe Elizabeth's right, maybe I really haven't learned to live for myself yet. But then again, it's not a surprise. I've always been a coward when it comes to standing up for myself. I'd still just rather back down and give up rather than even attempting an argument, I feel TERRIBLE when I do anything that hurts or offends anyone, and I've noticed that while others immediately feel a sense of vengeance when someone does something wrong to them, I tend to feel sorry for the person that did the crime, thinking of how terrible the circumstances must have been that drove them to do that thing in the first place, or having sympathy on them for making a mistake. Someone broke my car window and I didn't even feel right pressing charges, someone killed a friend of mine's boyfriend through drunk driving by crashing into a crowd during a music festival, and while my friends on Facebook were all posting things like "whatever he gets is too good for him," and "15 years? After killing two people? Come on, that's not enough," I STILL felt sorry for the driver, and felt bad that he was getting any prison time.

You know, I'm realizing more and more that I really am like the characters in my stories. My entire life, I have suppressed my transsexual desires because I didn't want to offend anybody. Because of that, I stopped wearing the clothes that I wanted, I stopped shaving my legs even though I loved doing it, I started looking to God for help to get over my "problem" at many points in my life (which is why it took me so long to join this site,) and I have never even mentioned it to a single one of my friends or family members because I'm afraid of what they'd think, and afraid that I'd be shunned and teased about it.

I got nothing to hide when I grad, no longer will my mother have control over me. If she and her side of the family insults me by calling me names such as loser, transvestite freak, chic with dick or hows living with AIDS hooker; I'll just simply say what have you accomplished in life?

Oh that's right every one on your side of the family has impregnated someone early and look where thats gotten you. Poor and without ambition.

I'm not your sister mom(who btw died of hiv by means of intravenous drugs)

Grow a vag!!! LMAO

NB = The only thing I'm worried is she'll attempt suicide. She doesnt appreiate life. I swear this is true.

[Elizabeth (imported)]

^As always, a very excellent rational post. Great to have some perspective thrown in to this.

I do have a question, though, in regards to this reply:

Seriously? Because every single study that I have ever looked at said that this figure is at least 60%, with many claiming as high as 85% to 95% from certain surgeons with the most advanced techniques. Plus a lot of the post-op accounts that I have read actually reported BETTER orgasms than before the change. I hope I'm not being a pill here, but I find it hard to believe that surgical techniques which preserve a portion of the glans, as well as the nerves attached to it, are unable to produce orgasms when I've heard numerous accounts of completely castrated and penectomized men still being able to reach orgasm.

What I am telling you is that there is huge pressure inside the transsexual community to transition and have surgery. Because of this, people tend not to talk about the bad aspects of transitioning. Like how many people end up with vagina's that don't look real and don't function. Orgasm is a complex thing in both males and females. It's more than just the glans and blood supply to them. It's about how they function together. It's a contraction in the prostate, and the feeling of ejaculate going down the urethra, it's pressure on the base of the penis, and stimulating the glans. And lastly, it requires a chemical signal from your brain.

Most transsexuals don't hang around chatrooms and forums after transition. They no longer consider themselves to be transsexuals. And the ones with bad results aren't saying so publicly and usually not privately either, because of embarrassment and the feelings of having dreams crushed by reality. Because of this, the few who do speak out, are the few with good results, giving the impression that everyone has great results. In private however, many of my friends who have transitioned told me the truth about it. But even published numbers say only 2 in 10 can reach orgasm after transition. All the counseling I have received has been to expect loss of sexual function and it's a bonus if it does not happen.

Not saying some people don't achieve orgasm after transition, but for me it's only anecdotal. I have yet to meet a person who has transitioned who can achieve orgasm.

Elizabeth

[Elizabeth (imported)]

So I'm the only person here who isn't doing it because I'm worried about what my family and friends would think? (My mom really wants grandkids, and I love playing nude volleyball with my dad, and as such I would be too embarrassed to explain it to them, even though I really feel like I want it. And my girlfriend really wants sex even though I don't, so I'd feel bad getting rid of it because of that too.)

God, maybe Elizabeth's right, maybe I really haven't learned to live for myself yet. But then again, it's not a surprise. I've always been a coward when it comes to standing up for myself. I'd still just rather back down and give up rather than even attempting an argument, I feel TERRIBLE when I do anything that hurts or offends anyone, and I've noticed that while others immediately feel a sense of vengeance when someone does something wrong to them, I tend to feel sorry for the person that did the crime, thinking of how terrible the circumstances must have been that drove them to do that thing in the first place, or having sympathy on them for making a mistake. Someone broke my car window and I didn't even feel right pressing charges, someone killed a friend of mine's boyfriend through drunk driving by crashing into a crowd during a music festival, and while my friends on Facebook were all posting things like "whatever he gets is too good for him," and "15 years? After killing two people? Come on, that's not enough," I STILL felt sorry for the driver, and felt bad that he was getting any prison time.

You know, I'm realizing more and more that I really am like the characters in my stories. My entire life, I have suppressed my transsexual desires because I didn't want to offend anybody. Because of that, I stopped wearing the clothes that I wanted, I stopped shaving my legs even though I loved doing it, I started looking to God for help to get over my "problem" at many points in my life (which is why it took me so long to join this site,) and I have never even mentioned it to a single one of my friends or family members because I'm afraid of what they'd think, and afraid that I'd be shunned and teased about it.

I have seen families torn apart by this. Parents disown their children. People shunned or kicked out of church. Divorces where the transsexual parent is banned from seeing their own children. Friends who turn their backs and brothers and sisters who don't want transsexuals around their kids. You have to be willing to give up everything. If you are not, then you are not really serious. I am not saying the worst will happen to you. You might have great success with family and friends accepting you. But you have to be ready for the opposite. And there is incredible irony. People I thought would be cool with it, turned me away, while people who I thought would never accept this, were cool with it. You have to be cool with yourself because this is hard. You need a support system, so if the people around you aren't them, you need to move on and find people who will be cool with it and give you support.

The best day of my life was when I finally decided I was not going to care what anyone thought any longer. I was going to live for me, for the first time in my life. That is the real liberation. The clothes, makeup, jewelry and surgery are all just fluff to make it all much nicer, but in the end, it don't matter if i am alone, naked on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere, I am happy with who I am.

Elizabeth

[smoothie36 (imported)]

When you really want to be castrated you will know it and find out where to get it done properly and save up the needed funds and then do it. It is not really all that complicated.

smoothie

[erikboy (imported)]

Good words Elizabeth!

These things you just described have prevented me getting castrated so far. That is the reason why older men get castrated, as they do not have much too loose first place. They might be alone already. And they've had much time to experienc various situations in their life to be sure there is not much bad that could happen to them. Most are independent in most ways including financially.

[foxytaur (imported)]

Hi Elizabeth, I agree on the whole post orgasm scenario for Transexuals. A high degree of probability is involved whether you'll remain post orgasmic or not.

I never had desire for a vag, my friend Simi who transitioned and had srs about 4 months ago(fairly recent) took her chances anyways and while i congragulate her I wouldn't be able to bear not having an orgasm.

I do worry for her cuz she doesn't pass exterior wise as female(think Mrs Garrison from south park)

Much of it has to do with her carefree diet when at the time she was skinny could have mantained

I don't blame her she must have self indulged as a result of being excessively unhappy. There were times I couldn't even contact her cuz she was super distressed.

The important thing is she has tons of friends willing to help her. but in the eye of a stranger. I just don't know what awaits women who don't pass. Its why I worry too cuz I know I can't take hrt till Im 26. I'm staying active and healthy and trying my best to remain positive despite the negative energy around me.

My future career unfortunately is heavily male oriented(my class for example just first yr was 30:2 ration of male and female peers) and last term I got bullied by a transphobic/ homophobic snob.

Not passing would be horrible in a male dominant workplace where im bullied 24/7.

Especially in a workplace where I'd enjoy what I do given my skills.

I know things have changed and maybe im being too much of a pessimist however I've read what happened to Lynn Conway for example in the semiconductor engineering world and I find myself very perplexed and sometimes doubtful of myself.

She lost everything!!!!!!......But I admire her cuz she managed to start from zero ground and build a new reputation and life surpassing her old one as a male.

[transward (imported)]

Many pre-op transsexuals kid themselves about this one, thinking they are going to still be able to reach orgasm after surgery. However, I have yet to meet one in person that can reach orgasm. I know they say that 20% can, but I have not seen it yet.

Reports on this have been all over the place. From Anne Lawrence's site: http://www.gendersanctuary.com/pdf/sexu ... urgery.pdf

Frequency and Characteristics of Orgasm After SRS

The frequency with which participants were able to achieve orgasm with masturbation after SRS and the

characteristics of their postoperative orgasms are summarized in Table XIV. About 85% of participants who

responded to questions about orgasm were orgasmic in some manner after SRS. Only 11% of participants

thought that orgasm after SRS was "very similar" or "almost identical" to orgasms experienced before SRS,

but 67% found orgasm after SRS to be as pleasurable or more pleasurable than before SRS. Over half of

participants (55%) responding reported that they sometimes ejaculated with orgasm.

The aims of this study were to describe the sexual behaviors and attitudes of a group of MtF transsexuals

operated on by one surgeon using a consistent technique and to test specific hypotheses concerning their

sexual attitudes, behaviors, and partnership patterns. The study's descriptive data come from the largest

single-surgeon follow-up survey of MtF SRS yet published (N = 232). They demonstrate, among other things,

the sexual diversity of contemporary MtF transsexuals, a diversity that stands in sharp contrast to the findings

of some early reports. The study's descriptive data may be of particular interest to clinicians who counsel MtF

transsexual patients and to MtF transsexuals themselves.

Survey of Dr Toby Metzler's post SRS patienst) found:...... Eighty-five percent of participants reported that they were able to achieve orgasm after SRS, which is

consistent with the results of the studies summarized in Table III. The rate of anorgasmia experienced by

participants appears comparable to that experienced by natal women: Laumann et al. (1994) found that 24%

of natal women reported that over the last year there had been a period of several months or more during

which they had been unable to achieve orgasm. Although it is impossible to know whether the orgasms

reported by participants represent physiological orgasms, the large percentages of participants who reported

that their orgasms were either entirely different or only slightly similar to the orgasms they experienced while

living as men might lead to skepticism. On the other hand, 55% of participants reported that they sometimes

ejaculated with orgasm; this probably represents a minimum estimate of the percentage able to achieve

physiological orgasm after SRS. Since three quarters of participants described their orgasms after SRS as

being at least as pleasurable as those they experienced before SRS, whether or not these orgasms were

physiological may not have been especially consequential for the persons who experienced them.

but in another study: http://www.annelawrence.com/1997sicsg.html

Although a bare majority of the new women reported having had at least one orgasm since surgery, only 1 could definitely report achieving orgasm regularly. This is an astonishingly low figure, even allowing that 2 of the women had undergone surgery less than a year before—perhaps too recently to know what their pattern would be. In response to this disappointing result, one participant remarked, "This confirms what we've known all along—that surgeons lie." Another interpretation, of course, might be that orgasmic transsexual women are busy having orgasms, while nonorgasmic ones go to the NWC to bemoan their fates. We can compare the present results with some historical ones. The results from a previous NWC survey (Ogborn & Chase, 1994) showed unusually low orgasm rates, too. Do the NWC women comprise a different population? Or are they perhaps just unusually honest? As Blanchard et al. (1987) observed,"orgasm is undoubtedly difficult to describe in the first place, and one has little idea what to seek as evidence of authenticity in . . . self-reports" (pp. 272-273). Blanchard et al. thought that at least some of their informants, especially those who described multiple orgasms, were probably describing something else. They also noted that self-reports are "almost certainly colored, in many instances, by the transsexual's need to see herself, and be regarded by others, as a normal female" (p. 272). This might well explain why several non-"guilt-free" studies report orgasm rates of 30-60%. Both the 1993 and 1996 NWC studies, using "guilt-free" data collection, yield lower numbers and, I would tentatively suggest, more accurate numbers.

I'd like to share some personal experience on this subject, which is consistent with the factors noted above. I am one of the lucky transsexual women who is orgasmic; but I did not become orgasmic until seven months after surgery—after I attended NWC 6. During those months, I had some sensations that I believed might have been orgasms—indeed, that I desperately wanted to believe were orgasms. For that reason, I dropped a blue "not sure" chip when answering whether I had ever been orgasmic after surgery. Knowing what I know now, I should have dropped a white "no" chip. If I had been asked in a face-to-face interview whether I was orgasmic, I quite possibly would have answered "yes", an answer that I now know would have been incorrect. I can testify to the powerful desire to portray oneself as "normal" after surgery. I believe that this must be considered in interpreting studies that have not used anonymous data collection.

My experience running TS support groups is that the 85% figure is much too high, but your experience is probably too low. And most of the orgasmic ones needed masturbation by itself or as a supplement to penetration to get there (as do a lot of bio women.) I have been on blockers and estrogen for over a decade and have shrunk greatly, but w/ the aid of my trusty Hitachi Magic Wand ( http://www.amazon.com/Vibratex-HV-250R- ... B00005M1WE ) and Wahl massager ( http://www.amazon.com/Wahl-4120-200-All ... B000EQS33G) I remain quite orgasmic. Many trans women essentially stop masturbating and having orgasms when the blockers and estrogen reduce libido, (anecdotally more from the blockers than the estrogen; an increase in libido is not uncommon when they are castrated and stop blockers) Once they stop having regular orgasms, they are much less likely to be orgasmic after SRS. If money were no object, I would probably get castrated, but absent a partner for whom a cunt was an important part of the relationship, I am in no hurry for SRS. I would hate to spent up to $30,000 for a dry hole that never gets used, since I spend little time in female locker rooms or nudist camps. And I like orgasms a bit too much to nullify myself just to get a flat look. The fantasy of penectomy can arouse if part of a program of regular femininization, but has no great appeal just to look better in places I don't go much at my age.

Transward

[GlennCDM (imported)]

#5 for sure -- I want to get rid of them for sure, but I do like my life pretty much as is -- but the idea of being castrated which I want, and then immediately adding back testosterone does not seem right for me -- not sure what to do. And no I am not a transsexual -- just an older male.

[luke1812 (imported)]

1 and 7 are high on the list. I don't want to be a sexless euruch, I just want to be nutless. I am concerned that even with hrt things wouldn't be the same. Additionally, my lady loves my balls and is also concerned that there may be unintended negative impacts on our love life.

[Nidaho Rachel (imported)]

2,5 and 8, 5 and 8 are the bigest reasons. I would like to have my born male genitals changed to female to match my born female mind.I think I could live in a male role and have female looking genitals. Some day I would like to transition all the way to living as female.

[tugon (imported)]

Good words Elizabeth!

These things you just described have prevented me getting castrated so far. That is the reason why older men get castrated, as they do not have much too loose first place. They might be alone already. And they've had much time to experienc various situations in their life to be sure there is not much bad that could happen to them. Most are independent in most ways including financially.

Wow, we are all washed up so just take off our balls. I was in my 20's when I began thinking about castration. It took me until I was 41 to find someone to castrate me or it would have happened earlier. Plix and Thefraj are two who were castrated at an early age. At 56 I still have to work daily. I had just as much fear and anxiety as anyone who is making a major life change.