Orchiectomy questions

[ClaudiaLove]

Hello ,

I would like to ask some questions in the hope that someone will make it clear for me
Sooo  ,
I still have to wait for SRS because of the money , or better said lack of money , and it seems that it will take a while until i manage to get the funds . At the moment i use Androcur as an anti-androgenic and in the blood tests it appears that my testosterone levels are ' undetectable ' . Yet somedays i have libido and also my physical transition is reaaaally slow . I am almost not changed at all compared with the pre transition period . Maybe it is the age , maybe the estrogen receptors  , also i don't even have female digit ratio so maybe i am not that ' meant ' to be this way .
I read though that even low levels can be big enough to slow the transition , so i really want ' those things ' gone . I am already way too old and i feel like i am playing my last card .

A question would be if it is possible to have enough testosterone to affect the estrogen's effects  , despite the tests showing levels so low .

Another would be if anyone had a good result with an elastrator or Burdizzo . I know some of the risks and downsides , but i really wish to know if there are girls who succeeded in it . I already ordered one ... it is not about being encouraged or not , is more about seeing if there is someone who succeed and can share her experience with me .

Also , if anyone could share any personal experiences with progesterone . I am using it for a year or so and i worry that it might limit the estrogen's effects . Maybe it is different for everyone , but i am in a situation to choose between feeling good mentally by using it , or trying to not use it for a few months and see if i change more , despite feeling worse .

I know there might be some topics already , i read some , but i didn't feel like they touched this questions exactly .

Thank you

[janetcgtv]

Claudia:

Please don't do a self orchie as it could be very dangerous. There are doctors who could do it for you and you would be in a safe environment. Safety should always be a priority.

I also read somewhere that one will have hot flashes just like a biological woman.

[Jill F]

Don't even think about it.   The probability of complications are ridiculous and potentially life-threatening, not to mention the weeks of constant excruciating pain.   The odds of successful self-castration are practically nil from what I understand, and you would most assuredly need medical attention.

I did it last year under full sedation by a doctor who knew how to do it properly and cut the cords way up in the inguinal canals.  I had no complications and felt better than ever in about a week. 

You can have it done for a few thousand dollars the right way instead of risking a 5 figure ER bill and a lot more pain.   

[EmmaMcAllister]

Gosh, please don't self castrate. If money is the issue, my surgeon in Toronto does the procedure for $1000. I'm happy to share his info.

[Laura_7]

There is one form of hrt with injections or implants where estrogen is driven well into the female range ( well over 2-300 pg/ml ) and t down into the female range as well, without further anti androgens... you could talk this through with your endo.

Concerning progesterone, it should be bioidentical progesterone, effects and side effects of other products are different.
Bioidentical progesterone might help with breast development, with mood, even out some side effects of estro and have some anti androgen effects.
Some people cycle it, some say its not necessary to cycle.
Available are implants, capsules and possibly topical.
In capsule form it might make a bit tired... it could be tried if two small doses daily are better than one big one in the evening.


hugs

[ClaudiaLove]

Claudia:

Please don't do a self orchie as it could be very dangerous. There are doctors who could do it for you and you would be in a safe environment. Safety should always be a priority.

I also read somewhere that one will have hot flashes just like a biological woman.

Thank you for your reply,

The problem is i didn't found any doctor willing to do it in my country and i don't have the money to leave for another country and all the expenses .

[ClaudiaLove]

Don't even think about it.   The probability of complications are ridiculous and potentially life-threatening, not to mention the weeks of constant excruciating pain.   The odds of successful self-castration are practically nil from what I understand, and you would most assuredly need medical attention.

I did it last year under full sedation by a doctor who knew how to do it properly and cut the cords way up in the inguinal canals.  I had no complications and felt better than ever in about a week. 

You can have it done for a few thousand dollars the right way instead of risking a 5 figure ER bill and a lot more pain.

Thank you Jill

in Romania the prices would be much lower for the orchi and also if an emergency would appear . Yet the doctors here won't do it because of some laws , or lack of laws regarding transexuality and all the procedures , I didn't even change my name yet  Fortunately i heard that being an EU citizen i can change it in other EU countries , so i will try this with my first oportunity .

And also i wonder , if there is no chance , or very low chances to succeed , how is it that vets use this on a daily basis on so many species .

[ClaudiaLove]

Gosh, please don't self castrate. If money is the issue, my surgeon in Toronto does the procedure for $1000. I'm happy to share his info.

Thank you Emma ,

and sure , i would appreciate any info . To be honest i am really scared by this homemade orchi , so i might just delay it forever , so looking into an easy and safe route is a good idea for me . After all i just need to get free of ' them ' , i don't want to experience this painfull method .

[ClaudiaLove]

There is one form of hrt with injections or implants where estrogen is driven well into the female range ( well over 2-300 pg/ml ) and t down into the female range as well, without further anti androgens... you could talk this through with your endo.

Concerning progesterone, it should be bioidentical progesterone, effects and side effects of other products are different.
Bioidentical progesterone might help with breast development, with mood, even out some side effects of estro and have some anti androgen effects.
Some people cycle it, some say its not necessary to cycle.
Available are implants, capsules and possibly topical.
In capsule form it might make a bit tired... it could be tried if two small doses daily are better than one big one in the evening.


hugs

Thank you Laura ,

I don't meet with  my  endo anymore . There are very few endos willing to accept transexuals in my country ad this one , although a well known one , is really unprepared . She basically just gave me the prescription for the meds i was already tooking for months prior to meet her and sent me off , she didn't asked for follow ups , checkings, tune ups .... I pay for the meds anyway so i have no reason to ask for her services . I pay for my blood tests , i pay for my meds and i try to learn about it more and more .
I use a progesterone cream , it is bioidentical , and i feel great with it . It is not about that , It is about the ' anti -estrogenic ' effect i keep hearing , i don't know how i would've transform without it . I learn a lot on other sites , non trans-related , about the progesterone and how important it is for health , mood , weight control and so on , so i wouldn't want to give it up .

[kelly_aus]

Hello ,

I would like to ask some questions in the hope that someone will make it clear for me
Sooo  ,
I still have to wait for SRS because of the money , or better said lack of money , and it seems that it will take a while until i manage to get the funds . At the moment i use Androcur as an anti-androgenic and in the blood tests it appears that my testosterone levels are ' undetectable ' . Yet somedays i have libido and also my physical transition is reaaaally slow . I am almost not changed at all compared with the pre transition period . Maybe it is the age , maybe the estrogen receptors  , also i don't even have female digit ratio so maybe i am not that ' meant ' to be this way .
I read though that even low levels can be big enough to slow the transition , so i really want ' those things ' gone . I am already way too old and i feel like i am playing my last card .

A question would be if it is possible to have enough testosterone to affect the estrogen's effects  , despite the tests showing levels so low .

Libido is not as linked to testosterone as you think, I have quite a strong libido and have a very, very low T level. This kind of thinking ignores the roll of the biggest sex organ any of us have - our brain. As for things seeming slow, after 4.5 years, I've found it happens in waves. Some times things seem to happen quickly, other times not so quick at all. Just like in girls going through puberty.

Another would be if anyone had a good result with an elastrator or Burdizzo . I know some of the risks and downsides , but i really wish to know if there are girls who succeeded in it . I already ordered one ... it is not about being encouraged or not , is more about seeing if there is someone who succeed and can share her experience with me .

Simply put, don't do it. It's far more likely to go very wrong than right. And if it does go wrong, it could prevent you ever having SRS.

Also , if anyone could share any personal experiences with progesterone . I am using it for a year or so and i worry that it might limit the estrogen's effects . Maybe it is different for everyone , but i am in a situation to choose between feeling good mentally by using it , or trying to not use it for a few months and see if i change more , despite feeling worse .

I'm not convinced that progesterone is really of any huge benefit. And for me, the risks outweigh any possible benefits..

I know there might be some topics already , i read some , but i didn't feel like they touched this questions exactly .

Thank you

Progesterone has been discussed quite a bit, in many threads here.. The reason self-castration doesn't get discussed is that no sane person would do it - and certainly not with veterinary equipment.

[Laura_7]

Thank you Emma ,

and sure , i would appreciate any info . To be honest i am really scared by this homemade orchi , so i might just delay it forever , so looking into an easy and safe route is a good idea for me . After all i just need to get free of ' them ' , i don't want to experience this painfull method .

Don't have equipment around for that... in a weak moment there might be temptation.
I'd say get rid of it, sell it or don't get some at all.

In Czechoslovakia there is a product called neofolin, its estro for injection. You might ask your doc to prescribe it, there are many people happy with it.
Quite a few people reported a bit better effects after switching to injections, or implants.

There has to be other docs in nearby countries doing orchis.
You might ask transgender groups there, there should be some who can be contacted in english.


hugs

[ClaudiaLove]

Yes , i believe you , i even pierced my ears myself although i was scared to dfeath initially . Yet one day i was so depressed and with a lot of blood dripping i  still did it .

About the Neofolin i asked the BBPharma and they said i need to ask my endo to talk with them . So i asked her and she said the medicine is not approved by my country so she can't ask for it .
To be honest i think my estradiol gel is similar with injections in efficiency , i used to use patches and now i am using mostly the gel . Maybe it is my age and my lack of receptors . Maybe it is also that i am eating quite healthy and in a way and quantity that doesn't allow fat to deposit  . I have virtually no fat so my boobs are an A cup at most and my face is so masculine .
Also i heard progesterone is preventing (big)estrogen fat deposits , so this is why i asked also .

About travelling for orchiectomy , it is really difficult now , i live all alone and i struggle to pay for rent food hrt and casual expenses . So to save a few thousands and have a few weeks off from work is hard .

[Laura_7]

You might try avocado oil for fat... a doc recommended it saying its a preferable mixture of oils and other ingredients...

soft factors could also make for testo levels... like taking part in aggressive pastimes... etc...
a bit more laid back attitude might help, not getting upset so fast...

what might help with breast growth is massage, with a good oil (I personally would use organic plant oil...some use coconut oil for example), twice a day for a few minutes... it can help with blood flow and thus indirectly with receptor stimulation... I saw a vid of a trans women where it very obviously helped, she said so...

another thing might be noogleberry or similar products... just don't overdo it with suction... keep it all gentle...

nutrition...
there are phytoestrogens in sesame, soy and linseed products. If you have already sufficient estro levels, they might compete with estro receptors, making for a weaker effect than estro. Normal quantities should be ok, but I'd avoid larger quantities.

A weak masculinizing effect is said to come from carbonated drinks, and carbs. So eating vegetables, in a healthy variety, might help.


hugs

[ClaudiaLove]

Thank you

Today i just looked for the prices of the only doctor who accepted me for a consultation regarding orchi . He wants more than 2000 dollars for the procedure . I won't even go for the consultation . They are crazy , in here many people still earn  300 dollars or less  a month .
Back to elastrator ...

[Laura_7]

You might ask here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,169037.msg1478769.html#msg1478769

[haileys]

Gosh, please don't self castrate. If money is the issue, my surgeon in Toronto does the procedure for $1000. I'm happy to share his info.

Could you share it with me please?

[Gail20]

I've been on HRT for over 10 years.  Its made everything really shrink up.  So much so, that I'm concerned about having enough skin left for a surgeon to do GRS on me.

Also, I was in the habit of pushing the unwanted marbles up in my abdomen and did it so often that they finally stayed there about 8 years ago. Now they wont come down at all and I'm concerned it will add to the cost/complications during GRS.

My point is that you may not want to eliminate all the T in your system if you're hoping to have GRS somewhere in the future.

[Jacqueline]

Could you share it with me please?

haileys,

Welcome to the site.

This is a few years old. She is still a member. However, has not been on in a few weeks. I don't know if/when you might get a reply now.

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[haileys]

Thank you mod.  I'll check the rules and such.