I am confused about orchiectomies.   I understand to quite a degree the desire not to have testicles, and to cease to produce testosterone in a significant amount.   However, I am confused by what I have read here at Susan's.    Some people have written that it is essential that the body either has oestrogen or testosterone circulating in the blood stream.    You must have one or the other these people argue, but what about the Castrati? and other historical eunuchs?   They had very low levels of testosterone and NO oestrogen and yet they survived for many decades after the operation.   What really confuses me though is the idea of giving up something natural,self-generating and FREE within the body and substituting something synthetic non=self-generating and NON-FREE in its place.     What would you say if someone told you that they were going to have their heart removed and have it replaced with a tin mechanical heart? 

The adrenal glands do produce androgen testosterone in limited amounts. 

I still take a little estradiol everyday. Anyways... orchiectomy... best choice I ever made! 

Those people throughout history probably weren't assessed for things like osteoporosis, which is a big problem if you don't have T or E circulating.

It's a valid question. I'm considering an orcie first to make sure all T stuff is removed & maybe I'll have to take less HRT. I put out way too much of that nasty T stuff, hate it really, always have. But what does happen if no estrogen is taken in???

Princess,
the T bit from adrenal glands was mentioned.
Now the E part.
Have you noticed looking at pictures of castrati that they all gone quite fat in time?
Body fat produces E as an alternative source to ovaries by example.
Therefore having some hormonal imbalance ALSO would tend make you quite fat, being the new E resource. Fat men also have elevated E in their blood due to their fat being an E factory of sorts.

So, castrati would have produced alternative hormone resources --- the body trying to compensate.

Axelle

well is it cheap i mean it kind of adds to srs costs in a way and wont it cause you to have less skin for your srs??

Quote from: LilKittyCatZoey on August 06, 2011, 07:01:30 AM
well is it cheap i mean it kind of adds to srs costs in a way and wont it cause you to have less skin for your srs??

Some doctors don't like to do SRS after an Orchidectomy, but it does not add to the cost, unless you wait years and years before getting SRS.

When I had my orchi I couldn't stop smileing for a couple days. Being rid of the poison factories was worth every second of pain.

If you are attached to them I would suggest keeping them.

* ...it does not add to the cost, *

Well, there is orchie cost and then there is SRS cost.
That in my book would be added cost. YMMV

Axelle

Quote from: Axélle on August 06, 2011, 09:25:49 AM
* ...it does not add to the cost, *

Well, there is orchie cost and then there is SRS cost.
That in my book would be added cost. YMMV

Axelle

In that respect it does, but if you have had an Orchie, generally doctors do not charge you extra.  Lest of course you need a Sigmoid Colon.

OK, I guess we singing from the same hymn page now :-)

If it means colon-section, add $3.5k but add a nasty scare on your tummy (~ 12" !), or some on your thigh, or butt, for skingraft material. Also add some $1.5 - 2k for that extra work.

The sane approach for me, is to have orchie if for some reason, money or otherwise, SRS is not possible. And a good decision in that case, I'd say.

Axelle

Castrati suffered from hot flashes, osteoporosis, problems with bone growth in late adolescence, impotence and infertility.  They also lived for decades with these problems.

Every time I hear about eunuchs or castrati... I think of Varys from ASOIAF. 

OliveLevel,
* Castrati suffered from ... , impotence and infertility. *

Well honey that now DOES come as one big surprise, now doesn't it?

Oh oh,
Axelle
PS: At least they would sing jolly well, um.

Generally, if you are saving for SRS/GRS and aren't scheduling it immediately, orchiectomy balances out versus the cost of anti-androgens around the two-year mark.  It's a relatively simply surgery, recovery time is minimal, and it certainly eliminates the major source of T from your body.  Since full-face electrolysis also requires approximately two (or more) years, the timelines work out well together.  Orchiectomy leaves about a 1.5-inch (3.25 cm?) vertical incision and minimal scar in the middle of the scrotum, very high, near the base of the penis.  Generally, this does not present any issues for SRS surgeons, unless seriously excess scar tissue is present.

* and it certainly eliminates the major source of T from your body.*

.... and reschedules your adrenal T output so you may take AA for yet another year, or more?

Also if your T is low without AAs, why even bother?

Just saying,
Axelle
PS: My T is very low BTW, is why I mention it.

Quote from: Axélle on August 07, 2011, 08:06:02 AM
* and it certainly eliminates the major source of T from your body.*

.... and reschedules your adrenal T output so you may take AA for yet another year, or more?

Also if your T is low without AAs, why even bother?

Just saying,
Axelle
PS: My T is very low BTW, is why I mention it.

Simple answer, because I wanted too.

Why?  In my individual case:

• To be rid of two bothersome growths that have caused nothing but problems my entire life. 
• SRS/GRS at $12K to $16K isn't currently a good financial option, but orchiectomy at $2K is.
• It will require another year of electrolysis to be completely rid of my beard.
• Hair transplants next year will be another $12K to $15K expense.

The pituitary and adrenal glands will initially attempt to compensate for the lack of testosterone, but this doesn't last long, especially when Estrogen is already present.

Quote from: Axélle on August 07, 2011, 01:35:34 AM
OliveLevel,
* Castrati suffered from ... , impotence and infertility. *

Well honey that now DOES come as one big surprise, now doesn't it?

Heehee,
Axelle
PS: At least they would sing jolly well, um.

I don't know about that heehee business.  What is funny?  These boys had their nuts cut off, some of them died.  They never had families or children.  They were sick their entire lives.  And not all of them ended up being the best singers.