Yes, I’m Getting Them Cut Off

This is an account of a really nice trans woman who describes her Orchiectomy (castration) experience (pre & post-op). I thought my followers would like to see the posts, since I am asked constantly about “what it’s like?”.

This is wonderfully documented in her posts. So I’ve copied and pasted all of her writings in chronological order on her Tumblr from before the orchi to recovery and feelings post orchi in one long posting.

Source: https://blacksissykarly.tumblr.com Thank you Karly

So in the real world I live my life as a woman. Yes, I started life as a boy but that never suited me. In 1999 is started my transition. Yes, that makes me a transgender woman. In my 57 years of life I have had no surgeries that are associated with being trans — no trach shave, no FFS, no boob job and no GRS.

Trach shave (Chondrolaryngoplasty)? Don’t need one. I was born without an Adam’s apple.

Boob job (breast enhancement? Don’t need one. Hormones and genetics have been kind to me and given me a nice pair of 38Ds.

FFS (facial feminization surgery)? Don’t need it. I was one of those baby-faced guys. And when hormones came into my life they wiped out any hard edges that my face may have had. I’m actually cute as a woman (even as an old one)

GRS (genital reconstructive surgery)? I wanted it in years past but now time and money (actually the lack of it) have conspired to make that surgery impractical.

However there is one procedure that I do want to go ahead with: an orchiectomy. Now I am on track to have that procedure.

On June 8th I had an appointment for a consultation with Dr K about an orchiectomy. It was my first time seeing him. I was referred to him by Dr B, my endocrinologist. Dr K is a no nonsense, cut-to-the-chase kind of a guy. He’s done a number of us girls before. He’s very knowledgeable and I found that reassuring.

He had seen my recent labs. He was surprised by how high my testosterone level was, give the length of time I’ve been taking anti-androgen drugs. He said that I will be one of those who benefit quite handily from the procedure.

Apparently the little testosterone factories have proven to be resilient as well as resistant. Dr K said that post-procedure I will likely notice a surge in the feminizing effect of estrogen.

I wasn’t expecting that as a result of the orchi. I am doing this because I’m tired of lugging these balls around. I want to be free of them. And, since I can’t trade in the penis for a vagina, I want the damn pee-shooter to shrink as much as possible. It has not shrunk much since I started hormones and I’ve finally had enough. Let the balls go and let the dick shrink. I want to look cuter in panties and I want shorts to be easier for me to wear. If I get the added benes of larger tits, cuter face, better hair and bigger booty, I’ll take ‘em.

Feeling Awkward - July 14th, 2016

Now that I’ve made the decision to have the orchi, I’m feeling a new sense of disconnect with my genitals. I’ve never liked what was between my legs and have always wanted it be gone. However over the years I’ve made peace with them. Maybe more of a cease fire, like the one that exists on the Korean Peninsula. Now that there is a date for the orchi, I find that I’m more aware of my balls that I’ve ever been. It suddenly feels like they are huge. It feels that they are in the way more than ever.

I suspect part of this is my usual summer dysphoria. When the summer starts and the weather starts to warm up, i want to dress differently. I want to wear shorts and short dresses. I think I have a cute booty and I’ve love to show it off. However that calls for tighter shorts and pants and the balls get in the way. The other part of my summer dysphoria is also related to the temperature. When it is cold the scrotal sac shrinks to keep the testes warm. That a good feeling because it’s easier to deal with and wear cute clothes and not be reminded of what’s there. But in the warm weather the scrotal sac does the opposite. It expands to get the testes cool. Then the very parts of me that I like least become more of a problem. They get in the way. They keep me from wearing cute clothes. They constantly remind me that they are there. I’m ready for this to end. And on July 28th it will end.

A Conversation I Had with Myself - July 18, 2016

Swedish Hospital called today. It was Pre-admission calling to ask a few questions in preparation for my procedure on the 28th. In a most professional manner the woman on the phone asked me all the questions she needed to ask: heart and/or lung issues? medical allergies? liver condition? hearing or speech impairments?

She confirmed the time and date of the procedure. She confirmed the insurance I have. She let me know that the anesthesiologist will call me on whatever date she said. We ended our conversation and that was it.

After the conversation was over, I found myself getting a little nervous. I had to have a conversation with myself.

I: What’s going on here? You’re not scared, are you?

Myself: No! Maybe just a little.

I: Why?

Myself: It is surgery. You know: anesthesia, knife, blood, sutures, pain…

I: Is that all?

Myself: What do you mean by that?

I: You’re not having second thoughts, are you?

Myself: No, it’s not that. It’s just that this is serious stuff. It’s not to be taken lightly. This is a big move.

I: Are you afraid that something will go wrong in surgery?

Myself: Not really. It’s as safe a procedure as having my gall bladder removed was.

I: Then what has you so nervous?

Myself: The unknown. The questions that at first didn’t bother me but now are looming larger.

I: Questions? What questions?

Myself: What will life be like after the boys are gone? Will the loss of testosterone cause muscle mass loss to the point where doing my job becomes impossible? Will I lose what is left of my sense of drive and ambition? Will I want sex anymore? Will my weight loss efforts be doomed to failure?

I: Hmm. Those are good questions. I don’t know the answers to them. We’re going to have to face them as they come.

Myself: I’m scared.

I: I know. But let’s not forget why we are doing this and keep reminding ourselves of the benefits we hope to gain.

Myself: Agreed. Step by step.

I: Yes. Day by day.

I have been asked to say more about having an orchi. So here it is.



The night before I had trouble sleeping. I was nervous though I had no doubts about what I was doing. Surgery is always a serious matter. Anything can happen. But more than that I was asking myself a set of question for which I had no answers until after surgery. How will I know and feel the results and when? What’s it going to be like? What’s it going to feel like? What’s it going to look like?

A family member took me to the hospital. When I checked in at Day Surgery the woman at the front desk looked a bit confused when I told her I was there for an orchiectomy. She had that, “You’re a woman. You can’t have an orchiectomy” look on her face. She looked at the paper and looked at me. She looked at the paper again. Then I saw the, “Oh that’s what’s happening” look on her face. She recovered her professionalism wonderfully.

They did a blood draw for a quick test. Then into the prep room where I turned in my civies for the standard issue hospital gown. Then the usual parade: nurse, anesthesiologist, surgeon, nurse. They roll you around in a bed. You don’t even have to walk. They gave me a heated blanket. They gave me some meds that relaxed me. So I was quite cozy.

The anesthesiologist came back said something and that was the last thing I remember until I was coming to in recovery. I was out of it but my family member was there to get all the aftercare and follow up instructions. She took me home. I got in the bed when I got home and slept the rest of the day and through the night.

The next morning I woke up still a bit groggy and said, “Ouch. What’s that?” Then I looked under the sheet and it all came back to me. That day after was t miserable. I was hurting. There were two pains I was feeling. The first was the pain at the incision. That was a small sharp pain, like a cut (which is exactly what it was). The second pain was like that of being hit in the balls but nowhere near as intense. It was a pain in the area between the base of the penis and the belly button. That made the day after and the next more than a bit uncomfortable.

The day after and the day after that were the worse part of the experience. After that the pain decreased significantly and I knew all would be well in matter of time.

Yesterday “the boys” went bye bye. I’m hurting today but I’m glad to be rid of the testes.

Post Orchi: day two - July 30, 2016

Less pain. Seriously bloated. Bleeding seems to be over. Bowels moving again. Pain meds still have me a little loopy. Back to bed.

post orchi: day four - August 1, 2016

Woke up today at 3 of 10 on the pain scale. It’s not the incision that hurts as much as it is the region about four inches below my belly button. The pain is more like the feeling of being hit in the nuts.

I’m almost done with the Tylenol with codeine. I’ll soon see how I respond to OTC pain meds. I hope they do a good job controlling the pain from here on out. At least I won’t be constantly sleeping.

The swelling is down quite a bit. There is very little discharge from the surgical site. That may change today as I’ll be pulling out the two drains the surgeon placed during the procedure.

The other effects I’m dealing with are digestive. I’m all gaseous and bloated. My bowels are are weird. I feel like I’ve gained 100 pounds in the last four days.

Still I know I’m recovering. Recovery takes time. Being older my recovery time will be longer. I’m on track. I’m where I need to be. I just wish things would move faster.

post orchi: day six - August 3, 2016

I took yesterday and today off. I felt I was not in a condition just yet to return to the rigors of my job. My pain was still at 3 of 10 and I wasn’t feeling confident in my ability to last the day. Coming down off the codeine feels good. I can concentrate again. However I am still tired after what feels like only a small amount of physical exertion.

I’m starting to be feel good enough to actually notice what is going on in my body and to be more aware of it. While doing my wound care I took the time to explore my genitals a bit. This is something I don’t like doing since I experience lot of mixed (mostly negative) feeling about them. However today I touched the scrotal sac and it was odd to feel nothing there. The boys are gone and, though there is still a good bit of swelling, I can tell that the sac is smaller. That brought a smile to my face.

post orchi: day seven - August 4, 2016

I feel very good today. Pain has dropped to 1 of 10. Still I know that I am no where near 100%. I’m no longer taking Tylenol with codeine but I am taking Ibuprofen OTC. I still have pain when moving from sitting to standing and from standing to sitting. When I’m in either position I’m fine but moving between them causes some pain. I expect that will continue to diminish over time.

The incision continues to heal nicely. The swelling is greatly reduced. There is no longer any wound discharge. However I’m still very careful with the area as the temporary stitches have not yet dissolved.

I am ready to return to work and will do so today. However I’ll be on light duty for at least another two weeks. I have to do a lot of standing, walking, bending, stooping and lightweight lifting at my job. Throughout the course of a normal day I find myself on my knees, on my back, reaching into tight places and in other awkward positions. I will have to be extra careful over the next several days.

On the whole I’m beginning to feel more like myself. My mind is clear. The bloating is almost gone. My energy is coming back. Now that I’m well on the road to recovery from the actual procedure I’m looking forward to results of the surgery. I’m curious about how the absence of “the boys” will effect me.

Post orchi: 18 days - August 19, 2016

And all is going well. Pain is at 0 out of 10 asnd gas bern there for the last few days. Some of the stitches are still in place and have not yet dissolved. However the incision is healing nicely.

As I’m not having GRS, I asked the doctor to remove as much of the scrotal sack as possible. And he did. I have to admit that it is a wonderful feeling to have nothing in that small sack of skin between my legs. My new favorite thing is to cross my legs and rejoice in the fact that there are no balls in the way.

I’m now at the point where I’m starting to wonder about the other effects as my testosterone level plummets. Curious about what I will experience

post-orchi: day 48 - September 9, 2016

Today marks the 6th week since my orchiectomy. Last week the surgeon discharged me from his care with a clean bill of health. He was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I’m healing. He returned me to normal activities of daily living. He lifted my weight lifting restrictions. He cleared me for exercise, as tolerated. He warned me that I will be a bit “de-conditioned” and by that he means out of shape. He counseled me to return slowly to exercise so as not to risk other injuries that have nothing to do with my recent procedure.

Six weeks in I have begun to notice definite effects from the removal of the testosterone factories. Even after years on HRT they were still producing T-stone. With there departure the estrogen is able to work unhindered. So far this is what I’ve noticed:

A new round of skin softening and with it easier skin bruising

A noticeable reduction in facial hair (something I didn’t experience when I first started HRT)

Weight gain and weight shift. Weight is going to my hips and thighs, like it did when I first started HRT

A new round of breast growth. They’re bigger and fuller and my nipple as more sensitive than ever

A new clumsiness. I’m bumping body parts that I didn’t used to bump. I’m a little more awkward as if my balance is slightly off.

My hair is growing again. It’s a long and strong as it ever was.

My libido (which was never strong) has all but disappeared.

I’m feeling less driven in almost every area of life right now. i mostly want to take things easy.

And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how things feel “down there.” It feels very good to wear more form fitting clothing (pants and skirts) and being comfortable.

So far I’m ok or even happy with most of these changes. The lack of drive concerns me but I can deal with it. I hope I become less awkward over time. I’m already tired to new bruises. Also I don’t want tot weight gain to go on. After all my ends-doc says I need to be down 20 pounds the next time I see her. Still it’s been good. The procedure was certainly the right move for me.

A few folks have messaged me about the reference I made on one of my posts to “getting my balls cut off.”



About a year ago I had a surgical procedure called an orchiectomy, which is the procedure for the removal of the testes. I had been thinking about the procedure for a long time. However I didn’t have the money for it.

Eventually I landed a full-time job that afforded me health insurance. I was then able to see my endocrinologist (the doctor who helped manage my HTR) again and I talked to her about an orchi. She was happy to recommend me to a urologist who has been very understanding of and helpful to girls like me.

The urologist examined me. We talked about why I wanted the orchi. He listened to my reasons and agreed to do the surgery. He gave me all the info I needed to prep for the procedure as well as what to expect afterwards. The doctor’s staff worked with the insurance company and they agreed to cover the surgery. Then we set a surgery date.

That morning I checked into the hospital’s day surgery unit. The whole thing when as smooth as could be. I was discharged and a relative took me home. I crashed for the rest of the evening and slept through the night.

The next day the aftercare began. In a few days I was up and about with discomfort buy no real pain. Slowly over the next couple of weeks the sutures dissolved, the swelling went away, my post op exam was great and I was on my way to a new experience with my body.

I’m quite happy with the results. It was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

N.B. the above picture is not me but it is very much what I look like down under.