Do the testicles produce anything after being on HRT?

[Princess_Jasmine]

Hello everyone! I am just trying to familiarize myself with exactly what it is the testicles are doing after one has been on an effective HRT feminizing regimen for over a year. Do the testicles produce any hormones at all? Or do they become completely inactivated and not produce any hormones at all? Do they produce any progesterone, testosterone, or estrogen or any other hormones at all while undergoing HRT after a long period of time? Can someone who is really educated on the subject please tell me everything they know on this matter. Thank you!

[pebbles]

No nothing really although they do still produce a minimal level of bleed through testosterone even if your on blockers. as it's not 100%

They produce a number of odd hormones but why they do exactly isn't known testicles produce and release Inhibin... its probably relivent to spermatogenesis. I honestly don't know if they continue to do that on hormone blockers. I'd have thought so.

Most of the other sex hormones are produced in the adrenial glands.

[Sandy]

The use of anti-androgens much past 8 months results in permanent chemical castration, and is irreversible.  They will shrink in size while being used.

AA's inhibit the creation of testosterone and bind to the receptor sites that produce androgenic hormones in the testicles which contribute to spermatogenesis and secondary sexual characteristics.  As a result, ejaculation will consist of mostly just seminal fluid and not have any measurable sperm.  The ejaculate will be a thin clear to slightly milky color, not thicker more white.

Libido will be significantly reduced as well.  Erection may be inhibited as well.  Some report almost no change in achieving an erection while other report no ability to erect.

Use of AA's will reduce your testosterone to almost immeasurable levels.  Discontinuing them after the testicles have been destroyed, will allow testosterone to be produced by the adrenal glands, which produce about 10% of the amount of testosterone and estrodial in the body, but no sperm is produced by the adrenals.

A small amount of testosterone in the female body is necessary for good physical and mental health.  It prevents osteoporosis and helps libido among other things.

In the human body, it isn't the amount of estrogen and testosterone in the body, but the ratio.  In an adult female, the average amount of testosterone is approximately 20-26 mmg/dcl and the estrodial is approximately 420-480 mmg/dcl.

-Sandy

[JennX]

As the other posters have mentioned, the testes still do produce T even while on HRT. The amount produced and the amount of T that your body binds to receptors, depends on your physiology and how well Spironolactone blocks/inhibits T binding to these receptors. It differs for everyone because everyone's physiology is different. The best method to gauge the efficiency of HRT is thru continual periodic blood tests and obviously the physical changes over time. Time will tell. It is also worth mentioning, that even in genetic cis-gendered females a low, but still measurable T level, is needed for normal body function. So everyone needs a little T.

[supremecatoverlord]

Testosterone is still primarily synthesized inside of (since Leydig cells are located inside of them) and secreted from the testes.
I'm assuming this means that you might continue to have slightly higher levels of testosterone than bio-females even when on HRT unless these parts become entirely atrophied or are removed entirely.
FTMs have a similar problem to this with their ovaries because they are responsible for a large amount of estrogen secretion in female bodied people.
I've heard FTMs will often require lower doses of testosterone to maintain normal male levels after having a oophorectomy; unfortunately, I don't know if the same rule applies to MTFs and estrogen dosing, but I'm going to assume it does unless someone corrects me and says I'm totally wrong.
xD
Yep. Feel more than free to.

[Alainaluvsu]

I've heard FTMs will often require lower doses of testosterone to maintain normal male levels after having a oophorectomy; unfortunately, I don't know if the same rule applies to MTFs and estrogen dosing, but I'm going to assume it does unless someone corrects me and says I'm totally wrong.
xD
Yep. Feel more than free to.

The common practice is that once an orchi is performed, less estrogen is prescribed. Testosterone does cancel out estrogen, and since the body is producing very little testosterone after and orchiectomy, estrogen doses can be lowered to a level similar to post-menopausal women.

[Virginia]

Discontinuing them (anti-androgens) after the testicles have been destroyed, will allow testosterone to be produced by the adrenal glands, which produce about 10% of the amount of testosterone and estrodial in the body, but no sperm is produced by the adrenals.

Interesting. I have been on Spiro and estrogen for right at 2 years; my OBGYN never mentioned the possibility of stopping the Spiro when I saw him last month. How long til some of you stopped AA's?

[JadeS]

does stopping anti-androgens after 1-2 years really keep you without androgens for good? I've never heard something like this, but if it's true that is pretty awesome

[Virginia]

I have often wondered if the decrease I have experienced in the size of my testicles was an indication of their slow destruction. The talk always seems to be about the long term affect on sterility not the production of testosterone. So I'm thinking now that would mean an orchi is primarily cosmetic from a hormonal standpoint once you have been on AA's for some (variable) amount of years...

[Assoluta]

More T, Vicar?

I'll get my coat...

[Jennifer_Lynn]

Stopping your normal dose of estrogen at two years or after you have SRS if your not beyond 5 to 6 years of HRT is non sense. I don't know where they come up with the idea that feminization stops at two years. If that was true girls would be mature at 12. And breast aug would be available for 13 year olds. I can speak only for myself in saying my gonads at last blood test T level of 1 and E level of 120. I'm having another test next week so I will see where I'm at. I agree with the other comments. Basically nothing comes out. Just a little clear slippery fluid.

Jennifer

[Dale]

Ive been on HRT for years. T count 25-35 E count 400-600. Testicles,..... one has gone up into the body. The other much smaller on very very soft. About the size of a small grape. When I can climax (once every 6 months) only a few drops of clear fluid comes out. Really not worth all the work. The female full body orgasms are a whole world better.