Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: severin on April 27, 2010, 09:15:42 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: severin on April 27, 2010, 09:15:42 AM
Post by: severin on April 27, 2010, 09:15:42 AM
Hi all
I've been on HRT for nearly 10 months now, supervised and tested. My levels most recently tested at Testosterone: 24 and E2: 154. I assume this is in nanograms per deciliter; you call in, the nurse doesn't give much detail.
Anyway, I've been wanting to ask if others have experienced a loss in sensation and what if anything should be done about it. What I mean is er, well when I was on AA only for 5 months or so it didn't change my sexual function, just decreased libido somewhat. Whereas after a few months on estrogen, the genitals seem comparatively numb and orgasm very difficult.
Then back in Jan, I got an orchiectomy and that worsened the condition to where orgasm has become almost impossible. I found it odd that orchiectomy would change very much being that my T levels were already so low (26), but it definitely decreased my capacity for erections. *sigh*
Estrogen has certainly given me some positive things... Just wondering if this is normal or is something to address. Basically erogenous feeling has left my genitals and instead spread out to a lesser extent all around my body. It's worrisome to think that if sensation has decreased this much just from hormones, then how numb would it be after SRS...
I've been on HRT for nearly 10 months now, supervised and tested. My levels most recently tested at Testosterone: 24 and E2: 154. I assume this is in nanograms per deciliter; you call in, the nurse doesn't give much detail.
Anyway, I've been wanting to ask if others have experienced a loss in sensation and what if anything should be done about it. What I mean is er, well when I was on AA only for 5 months or so it didn't change my sexual function, just decreased libido somewhat. Whereas after a few months on estrogen, the genitals seem comparatively numb and orgasm very difficult.
Then back in Jan, I got an orchiectomy and that worsened the condition to where orgasm has become almost impossible. I found it odd that orchiectomy would change very much being that my T levels were already so low (26), but it definitely decreased my capacity for erections. *sigh*
Estrogen has certainly given me some positive things... Just wondering if this is normal or is something to address. Basically erogenous feeling has left my genitals and instead spread out to a lesser extent all around my body. It's worrisome to think that if sensation has decreased this much just from hormones, then how numb would it be after SRS...
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: LynnER on April 27, 2010, 09:25:19 AM
Post by: LynnER on April 27, 2010, 09:25:19 AM
Thats odd... I'm far more sensitive in my erogenous zones than before...
But then again I had zero sex drive pre HRT and now its barely in check... Obtaining a full erection is nearly impossible but i really don't care. Full erections are really painful anyway. I do have an issue with masturbation, its extremely unsatisfying, but if you have a bf/gf your emotionally connected with its WOOOOOOOW!!!!!
PS: I to have had an orchi... my function hasn't changed one bit since it.
PPS: The most important sex organ in the human body is the brain.... your body does what the brain tells you.
But then again I had zero sex drive pre HRT and now its barely in check... Obtaining a full erection is nearly impossible but i really don't care. Full erections are really painful anyway. I do have an issue with masturbation, its extremely unsatisfying, but if you have a bf/gf your emotionally connected with its WOOOOOOOW!!!!!
PS: I to have had an orchi... my function hasn't changed one bit since it.
PPS: The most important sex organ in the human body is the brain.... your body does what the brain tells you.
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: severin on April 27, 2010, 09:40:49 AM
Post by: severin on April 27, 2010, 09:40:49 AM
yeah... I have a long term boyfriend and a girl on the side. I know there are mental issues such as the times when I start to get an erection then end up crying because it disgusts me that much. But beyond that, the genitals have definitely become less physically sensitive.
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: Flan on April 27, 2010, 01:19:49 PM
Post by: Flan on April 27, 2010, 01:19:49 PM
it's normal more or less, as lynn said, the brain is the number one sex oragan and if it's not in the mood then the body won't respond (while under low T conditions).
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: Nicky on April 27, 2010, 03:44:10 PM
Post by: Nicky on April 27, 2010, 03:44:10 PM
My boy bits don't do much for me anymore either.
I just don't bother touching them or having them touched anymore. It kind of bothered me once, because my ex partner and I were used to doing things a certain way and enjoyed it that way.
Lets face it, you probably now react different to sex, want different things out of it right? It is a case of relearning what you like and what you want, and communicating that with your partners. Try sex without using your penis.
Some people do get some T injections to improve their libido. Most women naturally have some T. I would talk to the endo about it, maybe you could adjust things?
I just don't bother touching them or having them touched anymore. It kind of bothered me once, because my ex partner and I were used to doing things a certain way and enjoyed it that way.
Lets face it, you probably now react different to sex, want different things out of it right? It is a case of relearning what you like and what you want, and communicating that with your partners. Try sex without using your penis.
Some people do get some T injections to improve their libido. Most women naturally have some T. I would talk to the endo about it, maybe you could adjust things?
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: severin on April 27, 2010, 04:43:48 PM
Post by: severin on April 27, 2010, 04:43:48 PM
Sigh. True, it's not enough to be stimulated -but rather it depends on more complicated emotional and situational factors. Seems I can't just enjoy things physically anymore but have to rely on genuine passion. I'm reminded of that photo with the one button labeled Man and the large array of knobs and dials labeled woman. That is so true, so annoyingly true. And PS with my BF it is pretty much "straight". He doesn't interact with my genitals at all.
Thanks all, good comments.
Thanks all, good comments.
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: andream on April 27, 2010, 08:25:48 PM
Post by: andream on April 27, 2010, 08:25:48 PM
I completely lost interest in sex during the first six to seven months of hrt. At month seven, when I switched from spironolactone to androcur, and from oral estradiol to injectable estradiol, I actually decided to perform a rather perfunctory masturbation experiment, to see if there was anything left. All very scientific lol.
Well, after that my sex-drive actually sky-rocketed. It was strange, yet wonderful, because my testosterone levels by then were well within female range. Sex and masturbation are completely different now - my entire body tingles, from my organs to my skin - it's not just a genital thing anymore. And I also yearn for closeness and cuddling.
My genitals have indeed become marginally less sensitive, and it takes a LOT more work to achieve orgasm, but when I do - oh wow - it's 100 times better than anything I experienced before HRT. And besides, although my genitals are less sensitive, the rest of my body has a heightened sensitivity which more than makes up for that loss of sensitivity in the genital region.
It's totally true that it's all in your mind. You have to really want it and work at it when you hardly have any T in your system, but when you do make the effort, it can be amazing.
Well, after that my sex-drive actually sky-rocketed. It was strange, yet wonderful, because my testosterone levels by then were well within female range. Sex and masturbation are completely different now - my entire body tingles, from my organs to my skin - it's not just a genital thing anymore. And I also yearn for closeness and cuddling.
My genitals have indeed become marginally less sensitive, and it takes a LOT more work to achieve orgasm, but when I do - oh wow - it's 100 times better than anything I experienced before HRT. And besides, although my genitals are less sensitive, the rest of my body has a heightened sensitivity which more than makes up for that loss of sensitivity in the genital region.
It's totally true that it's all in your mind. You have to really want it and work at it when you hardly have any T in your system, but when you do make the effort, it can be amazing.
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: severin on April 28, 2010, 09:04:09 PM
Post by: severin on April 28, 2010, 09:04:09 PM
Andream and Rhalkos, what you're describing makes me envious. I've gotten similar reactions in some ways -but basically when I do orgasm (after much effort), it's so blunted and muted it's hardly worth doing.
So Andream, it sounds like when you switched hormones things got drastically better. That's what I'm wondering if I could benefit from different meds. Androcur isn't legal here in the US -but since I had orchie I don't _really_ need an AA. Then for estrogen I've mainly been taking Estrofem sublingually.
And I'm wondering if my T & E levels are similar to those of you who've had good results. Sure would be nice to compare notes. PM me perhaps?
This kind of info isn't something my doctor would know. It's mainly been me asking for specific prescriptions and him approving it. *Sigh* Most of his patents don't even take an AA -that seems so outdated and less safe due to the increased estrogen necessary to compensate.
So Andream, it sounds like when you switched hormones things got drastically better. That's what I'm wondering if I could benefit from different meds. Androcur isn't legal here in the US -but since I had orchie I don't _really_ need an AA. Then for estrogen I've mainly been taking Estrofem sublingually.
And I'm wondering if my T & E levels are similar to those of you who've had good results. Sure would be nice to compare notes. PM me perhaps?
This kind of info isn't something my doctor would know. It's mainly been me asking for specific prescriptions and him approving it. *Sigh* Most of his patents don't even take an AA -that seems so outdated and less safe due to the increased estrogen necessary to compensate.
Title: Re: Loss of erogenous sensation
Post by: severin on April 28, 2010, 09:20:23 PM
Post by: severin on April 28, 2010, 09:20:23 PM
please do.