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Since the subject of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) keeps coming up, it's probably time to repeat one of the bits of information from the Eunuch Archive survey. The data below has not yet been published, but an article is in the final stages of preparation for submission.

Two questions on the large Eunuch Archive survey (asked with other questions in between) are relevant. All respondents who had been castrated either chemically or surgically were asked, "Six months to a year prior to your castration how often did you engage in sexual activity, either solitary (e.g., masturbation) or with a partner?" Later in the survey they were all asked, "Today how often do you engage in sexual activity, either solitary (e.g., masturbation) or with a partner?"

The same multiple-choice options were given each time:

Several times per day

Approximately daily

Several times per week

Once a week or less

Never, or almost never

There were 71 respondents to the survey who had been surgically castrated and who took FULL REPLACEMENT TESTOSTERONE HRT. Of the 71, 28 (39%) reported no change in frequency of sexual activity. Nine (13%) actually reported an increase in sexual activity, but 31 (44%) reported a decrease in frequency and 3 (4%) reported that they had become asexual after castration, even with full testosterone replacement.

The full article will explore this, together with the data on those who used no HRT, who used minimal doses of T or E, and those who used an MtF transitional dose of estrogen. The article will also explore differences according to sexual orientation and will look at questions about sexual fantasy and sexual partners.

What is important, though, is to remember that YOUR MILEAGE WILL VARY. There is no way to accurately predict any changes in sexuality after castration, no matter what HRT regimen you choose.

Jesus, you always come up with interesting topics. I look forward to reading your article.

To give the other end of the HRT spectrum, there were 68 survey respondents who had been surgically castrated and were taking NO HORMONES OF ANY KIND. Of these, 9 said that they were asexual before castration.

Of the remaining 59 who had been sexually active before castration, 27 (46%) reported that they had become asexual. Of the rest, 7 (12%) reported that their level of sexual activity had remained about the same and 25 (42%) reported a reduced level of sexuality -- 18 of that 25 to the level of "once a week or less." No one reported becoming more sexually active.

Castration and complete lack of HRT does not result in compulsory asexuality any more than full replacement HRT always results in maintaining full male sexual functioning. YMWV!

Really interesting data, Jesus!

I just wish the data set was bigger, to allow for the statistical comparison of distinct sub-populations - it doesn't seem shocking to me that those who do without HRT might be there seeking a libido reduction, for they're a vocal minority on the Archive, and they generally seem to find what they're after once they're fixed. It'd be interesting to bring more cosmetic, cancer, and trauma-induced eunuchs into the study, and see how much one's motivation has to do with their outcome.

New statistical methods based on the magnitude of statistical error can - as of last week! - tease apart cause and effect, I just wish there was a big enough dataset to feed into it.

(Every method has statistical noise in it. An independent variable has statistical noise, but a dependent variable is influenced by its own statistical noise PLUS the statistical noise of the independent variable. Recently published algorithms now allow one to tease apart simple causal relationships from easily observed correlations. It chokes on iterative functions, but this might be as significant a discovery as Student's T-Test.)

Jesus, this is very stimulating food for thought.

I have always been able to get aroused if I set my mind to it. Even when on cyprotone or depro provera and at my lowest T level of 46, I could with mental concentration get aroused.

There is something in this about mind over matter! Your stats are interesting and YMMV may have an emotional/psychological driver despite the lack of Testosterone. My mileage is that I can do whatever I set my mind too and quite often I am asexual and sometimes I wind myself up to be mega horny, it is all down to what I want at any given time.

It would be most interesting to understand this more in a holistic way (if that is the right term).

It could also be the case that a eunuch mind can stimulate hormone production in other areas to assist in stimulation by mental effort!

I can say that for me, my erections don't last as long, but the orgasm is much more intense and therefore better than before I started messing with my balls and hormones. I have never needed an erection to get get an orgasm either, it is just a different kind......

I think that human sexuality is enormously diverse, complex and many people never really discover the whole karma sutra! We often get stuck in a rut because of our aversion to diversity and variety!

I hope this makes sense...it does to me!

Jcat, you make a couple interesting statements.

First you mention a T level of 46 and still having some sexual interest. I've often wondered where the threshold is that puts us over the edge and all sexual interest disappears. I have no idea what my T level was while on Lupron but it made me miserable. I had no idea it was the Lupron causing it but that's another subject. Since stopping Lupron my T levels run from a low of 130 to highs in the upper 200s, tops being in the 280 range. My libido isn't what it used to be but still active. So I wonder how low my T levels would have to go before my libido disappeared. Is it one of those "your mileage may vary" things?

Second you mention being able to orgasm without an erection. I also fall in to that category. I always say, "It doesn't have to get up to get off".

I think age may play a factor in the "your millage will vary" argument

I find that stress also plays a factor. I tend to use a lot more T (i.e. I find my self feeling the lack much faster) while stressed.

nvrgag44 (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:02 am Jcat, you make a couple interesting statements.

First you mention a T level of 46 and still having some sexual interest. I've often wondered where the threshold is that puts us over the edge and all sexual interest disappears. I have no idea what my T level was while on Lupron but it made me miserable. I had no idea it was the Lupron causing it but that's another subject. Since stopping Lupron my T levels run from a low of 130 to highs in the upper 200s, tops being in the 280 range. My libido isn't what it used to be but still active. So I wonder how low my T levels would have to go before my libido disappeared. Is it one of those "your mileage may vary" things?

Second you mention being able to orgasm without an erection. I also fall in to that category. I always say, "It doesn't have to get up to get off".

Nvrgag44 like you I got terribly depressed and felt crap when my T was so low. However, I could still get an erection and I could still arouse myself. It is definitely a YMMV and we cannot make generalizations about it. Just as there is a wide spectrum of T levels in the normal range for men so to in libido. I am convinced it is not just T that enables libido but the will.

txcowboyw2balls, I think HRT works differently for those with a full set and those who are either eunuchs or who have destroyed the testes with injections. In the scenario of a normal male with low testosterone it is normal for counseling to be given along side HRT as there is little doubt that our emotional state affects libido.

Testosterone replacement interferes with the Pituitary gland that sends messages to the testes to produce testosterone and when it gets wind of high levels of T it tells the testes to slow down....it seems that eventually the pitutiary gives up and the testes shutdown. This is called secondary testicular failure.

So the decision to to take Testosterone replacement is a big one as it may destroy what you produce naturally. Many opt for counseling, diet and natural remedies to enhance T production.

This may sound a bit outrageous: I think (my opinion) that there are two types of men those who think about sex and those who just resond to sexual stimuli or natural arousal. For me sex has always been something that starts in head and I think there is some mileage in this analysis. It is just my opinion.

I had a strong desire to eliminate all sexual drive/activity before surgical castration. After surgery, all sexual drive/activity ceased, not surprisingly. Your brain is a sex organ. T reacts with your brain to produce sexual behavior. No T + brain dead set against sex = no sex. I suppose the reverse is true if you are castrated and still desire sex. Kind of a no-brainer (pun intended).

jcat (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 11, 2015 6:33 pm txcowboyw2balls, I think HRT works differently for those with a full set and those who are either eunuchs or who have destroyed the testes with injections. In the scenario of a normal male with low testosterone it is normal for counseling to be given along side HRT as there is little doubt that our emotional state affects libido.

Testosterone replacement interferes with the Pituitary gland that sends messages to the testes to produce testosterone and when it gets wind of high levels of T it tells the testes to slow down....it seems that eventually the pitutiary gives up and the testes shutdown. This is called secondary testicular failure.

So the decision to to take Testosterone replacement is a big one as it may destroy what you produce naturally. Many opt for counseling, diet and natural remedies to enhance T production.

This may sound a bit outrageous: I think (my opinion) that there are two types of men those who think about sex and those who just resond to sexual stimuli or natural arousal. For me sex has always been something that starts in head and I think there is some mileage in this analysis. It is just my opinion.

Jcat,

I would tend to disagree with you, at least in my case. My T levels were pretty much at castrate level before I went on HRT and I was still in possession of my balls at the time. I felt an immediate improvement in all aspects as soon as I started taking HRT and I could discern no difference between before when I had my balls, after I had injected them with CaCl and after they were removed. Oh well as the saying goes, your mileage will vary. These are my experiences with HRT. I will add that I have halved my dosage of HRT and I actually feel and perform better on the half dose than I did on the full dose. I went in for blood tests on Saturday and am seeing my endocrinologist tomorrow, so I will see what the results were and report back.

Not having testicles and having testicles with low hormones was about the same for me after the Chronic Orchitis. I have noticed that erections are not as hard as they were when I was 15 as they are now a few years later and after the orchitis and having them mostly removed the HRT does really help. For me the Gel has done best at a higher dose.

I am not sure what others are on here, what I am on would be the same as Androgel but I use 10% 100mg.

I hear the new Androgel works well for some just the dosing is not quite the same and I have done well with what works.

You also need to take an herb or supplement, for Estrogen/E2 sometimes.

Even without Testoserone something such as Arimidex would work well or another type of supplement.

It is rough regulating the hormones after medical issues like this or loosing the testicles etc, however it is possible.

I know it doesn ot feel the same though after loosing them due to the chronic infection, then the Dr ignoring the issue.

Well, just a report back on my blood tests. I am not too sure as to the unit measurement used here in Aus, but my level last time when I was on double the dose of Axiron that I am on now, was 22. About 2 months ago, I cut my dosage in half and my T levels were 19 this time. My time of application has remained consistent at around 9 PM just after a shower. I will say that the difference in serum T is negligible and that

micdavi24 (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:59 pm I actually feel and perform better on the

lower dose.

I wonder as far as HRT goes, who is on a an HRT for males but not on testosterone, medications such as DHEA and PREG?

etc, anyone have any opinions or information on how to go about the hormone profiles after loosing the testicles for a male that would like to try and keep everything up ? Thank you!

DHEA helps me to feel better also, Transdermal seems to be the best, hoping it does not convert to Estrogen.

It does help with energy, weight management and that for me, erections are weak or very poor with just DHEA. In the area of medicine we are a little behind in this area, now if we had testicular transplants, that would be another story. They were actually done in the early 30's, the old Dr's did not agree with this area of medicine, especially if you lost your testicles for damage etc, the cells could be grown off of your old ones.

dancinggizmos (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:25 am DHEA helps me to feel better also, Transdermal seems to be the best, hoping it does not convert to Estrogen.

It does help with energy, weight management and that for me, erections are weak or very poor with just DHEA. In the area of medicine we are a little behind in this area, now if we had testicular transplants, that would be another story. They were actually done in the early 30's, the old Dr's did not agree with this area of medicine, especially if you lost your testicles for damage etc, the cells could be grown off of your old ones.

Even if they could grow new ones or transplant testicles, I would not want mine back. I am so much happier now that mine have been removed. I am on HRT and I feel great in all respects.

Just so. Can't imagine anything that would be worse than having the nuts back.

Sexual function is possible but infrequent.

Question now is, do I need or want to keep the sexual functioning?

Maybe I'd be a happier nullo?

I have that same question too.

Numb or gone....

Excellent! That is good, what if you don;t mind me asking are you taking for HRT and what dosing if I may ask?

dancinggizmos (imported) wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2015 6:42 am Excellent! That is good, what if you don;t mind me asking are you taking for HRT and what dosing if I may ask?

I am using Axiron, 1 pump per day. Very effective. I used to be on 2 pumps/day, but backed off on the dosage and feel much better on the lower dose.

two pumps of Axiron makes me feel like a raging 15 year old boy 1 pump seems to be the sweet spot.

0.5 ml of ethanate IM

66.7mgs that should be. Half of a 125 mg 1 mL amp.

0.6 mL gives me too much libido... However muscle mass is created much easier at that level, more energy etc

0.4 mL is depression zone. No sleep etc poor cognition.

SO you use .5 ML of Testosterone Ethanate? Less does not work and more does not either?

I would keep my penis, even if it is numb.

Wellesley (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:25 pm I have that same question too.

Numb or gone....

I found this: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6309119

Maintenance of sexual function in a castrated man treated with ovarian steroids.Davidson JM (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?ter ... id=6309119), Camargo C (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?ter ... id=6309119), Smith ER (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?ter ... id=6309119), Kwan M (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?ter ... id=6309119).

AbstractSexual function, mood states, and endocrine levels were studied in a 48-year-old man who had been castrated bilaterally because of severe post-vasectomy orchialgia and who habitually uses oral estrogen and progestin. He reported satisfactory sexual behavior with a usual coital frequency of at least twice per week while on treatment with Premarin and Provera. Though his nocturnal penile tumescence (recorded on a portable home monitor) was very low while on this treatment, psychophysiological tests showed that erectile responses to erotic film were well within the normal range for control subjects in this laboratory. A double-blind experiment was performed to assess his sexual functioning and mood states during treatment with placebo, testosterone enanthate, and estradiol valerate, with and without progesterone (one injection of each, with 4-week intervals between treatments). All treatments generated prolonged changes in circulating hormone levels; testosterone treatment was associated with elevated estradiol levels, and estradiol with massively increased plasma prolactin. Coital frequency was highest with the estrogen-progestin treatment and lowest with placebo. Testosterone precipitated a very high frequency of spontaneous erections and severe negative affect. The subject also reported low sexual drive and poor mood states while taking Provera alone. It was concluded that the preferred estrogen-progestin treatment of this patient, probably in conjunction with minimal androgen levels from his adrenal, are most likely responsible for maintaining his satisfactory sexual functioning. There is no evidence that other castrates would necessarily benefit from a similar hormonal regimen.