Skoptic syndrome is a condition in which a person is preoccupied with or engages in genital self-mutilation (e.g. castration, penectomy). The definition of skoptic syndrome excludes cases of gender identity disorder. In DSM-IV, it falls under the heading of Gender Identity Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Castration, gelding, neutering, orchiectomy or orchidectomy is any action, surgical, chemical or otherwise, by which a biological male loses use of the testes. ... In ancient civilizations, removal of the human penis was sometimes used as a means of demonstrating superiority: armies were sometimes known to sever the penises of their enemies to count the dead, as well as for trophies. ... Gender identity disorder as identified by psychologists and medical doctors is a condition where a person who has been assigned one gender (usually at birth on the basis of their sex, but compare intersexual) but identifies as belonging to another gender, or does not conform with the gender role their... The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and other countries. ...

Skoptic syndrome can sometimes be motivated by intense sexual guilt, in which the genitals become identified as the source of the guilt-inducing sexual desire. This leads to desire for removal of or damage to the genitals.

In most sufferers, mutilation will begin on a small (almost harmless) scale immediately before the onset of puberty (usually about 12-14). By the late teens it is common for the self-harm to become more extreme, integrated with masturbation routines, and dependent on arousal.

In adulthood, some individuals seek castration from an "underground cutter" (an unqualified person with enough knowledge to perform the surgery in the home), or from a professional urologist. Castration, gelding, neutering, orchiectomy or orchidectomy is any action, surgical, chemical or otherwise, by which a biological male loses use of the testes. ...

Female birth-control pills such as Cyproterone Acetate (Brand name: Androcur) or Depo-Provera can be used to block the effect of androgens on the body, thereby cutting testosterone production and causing atrophy of the testicles. This method is often favoured by prospective eunuchs and their supporters as a first step, because it is largely reversible and non-invasive.

External links

• Eunuch.org. An internet community for Skoptic syndrome sufferers, including fiction, true anecdotes, and support forums.

References

Dr. John Money, "The Skoptic Syndrome: castration and genital self-mutilation as an example of sexual body-image pathology.", Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, Volume 1 1988 John Money (born 1921), Ph. ...