# Eunuchs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eunuchs/182818>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 18, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eunuchs/182818 "2003-06-18T23:59:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eunuchs/182818/1 "2003-06-18T23:59:01Z")

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1. Are there “volunteer” eunuchs nowadays?
2. Do eunuchs still have “feelings” from their missing limb?

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**Author:** ![db4530](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@db4530](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/db4530)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eunuchs/182818/2 "2003-06-19T01:18:59Z")

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[Eunuchs](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=eunuch) do not have the entire organ removed. They merely have the testes removed. Therefore, they would still have “feeling” in the penis because the “limb” isn’t missing.

I have no idea about voluntary castration, but I would imagine its possible. I have heard that some singers have it done to keep their voice higher, but that could just be an urban legend.

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**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eunuchs/182818/3 "2003-06-19T01:47:17Z")

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Some eunuchs did in fact have everything removed, according to [this](http://www.usrf.org/news/010308-eunuchs_china.html) site (warning, there is a picture at the lower half of the page showing very clearly that everything is missing)

Also, according to Cecil, many [hijras](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_212.html) in India have both their testicles and penis removed. ANd in answer to **legion** ’s question, apparently some of them are volunteers, and some of them are not.

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**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eunuchs/182818/4 "2003-06-19T01:50:27Z")

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[Another try at Cecil’s link about hijras.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_212.html)