Yes, but it appears to be a lot more difficult, and you lose a whole lot of your libido.
Low testosterone can also cause depression. You definitely need to go with chemical castration first, to make sure it won’t have that reaction in you.
I do want to also point out that there is no inherent reason you must be castrated to fit your other goals. Can you articulate why you want castration?
Yes, good question, especially as Futurist110 plans to keep his penis. I have read a little on this and, at least in the cases I have read about, it is just as much an emotional and mental issue as a physical one. Removing the testicles only, which is a dramatic step, seems to me like getting only half the job done if the purpose is to feel more female than male. Chemical castration does seem more appropriate in Futurist110’s case.
Futurist110, have you thought this through? Do you eventually want to live full-time as a female, or just dress up from time to time? Also, have you begun counseling? If not, I suggest you do before you have mentally committed to surgery of any kind, or even HRT. At some point your doctor will recommend this anyway.
Welcome to you Futurist110. Diversity can only enhance the SDMB. I wish you luck in fulfilling your dreams.
Hello.
Yes. People who have a testosterone level “below detectable limits” or no testes at all can have erections. While it certainly is MUCH more difficult to have an erection after an orchiectomy or on HRT, it certainly can happen. I’ve personally witnessed this in other transgender women…way, way too many times.
Ah, okay. Wasn’t sure.
So surgical castration can mean they just take the balls off? Huh, I had no idea! Thanks for the learning.
When I hear the word castration I assume it’s the whole package. Seems I was wrong to do so!
And welcome to our forum!
Welcome, Futurist. Nice to have ya around!
Thanks for sharing this information! 
Yes, you might very well be correct in regards to this.
This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if my libido can be pumped back up at will with the help of occasional testosterone injections or Viagra, though.
Can’t taking estrogen replacement therapy help deal with this, though? Also, do most postmenopausal women suffer from depression?
Well, in addition to my gender issues, I would like to be sterilized in a way which cannot ever fail. Indeed, even vasectomies can fail and thus are certainly not good enough for me. After all, we currently have a strict liability policy for a man’s sperm in regards to child support; thus, I must absolutely ensure that my body is incapable of producing any sperm ever again.
I need to ensure that my body is incapable of producing any sperm ever again, though. Thus, I absolutely cannot compromise in any way in regards to surgical castration.
Yes, of course I did.
Dress up from time to time, but also have a much more feminine appearance than I currently have and to permanently get rid of as much of my body hair and facial hair as possible. After all, my currently extremely massive amount of facial hair and especially body hair prevents me from ever cross-dressing (in an even remotely satisfying manner). 
No, not yet.
Don’t worry–after all, I will make sure to talk to a qualified counselor about this beforehand.
I’ve posted the answer above. I have direct personal experience with this. Out partying last night, in fact.
Are you serious?
Effects vary greatly. Generally speaking getting on a proper dose of estradiol will greatly improve one’s mood. The libido will vary. Some find that their libido is temporarily boosted simply because they feel so much better about themselves and their lives.
Often, however, libido dies. I found this to be rather ironic, considering I have both a wife and a boyfriend.
OK.
Um … Yes? After all, just because I might very well prefer to take estrogen doesn’t mean that I want to completely take the option of testosterone off of the table.
OK.
Why exactly is this ironic, though?
Also, for what it’s worth, I myself certainly don’t mind having low libido a lot of the time if I can simply raise it at will (well, with the help of some stuff) later on. 
This doesn’t track for me. If you are content with a low libido, what would be your impetus for wanting to raise it?
You probably don’t really need to worry so much about this. Birth control these days works pretty well for the most part. If you’re unsure if your partner is using it (or using it correctly), go with a condom. You’ll be fine.
I’m not a doctor, nor have I ever used Viagra. I am quite sure, however, that it doesn’t increase libido.
Because one doesn’t take (nor is prescribed) estradiol for libido reduction, it’s prescribed for feminization of the body and mind. Except for trying to approach a testosterone level similar to that of a natal woman, I’ve not personally met a psychologist who would find it ethical to bounce someone back on testosterone just because they want an erection, but I’m certain there are some out there. Generally speaking, they will recommend Cialis, Viagra, or some other drug. Estradiol and testosterone are not recreational nor lifestyle drugs, and mixing them or alternating between them could cause the potential psychological problems.
All this is aside from the fact that estradiol and testosterone effects need time to properly build up in your system (and I don’t just mean blood serum levels), sometimes days. It’s not like a magic shot you take and then suddenly you’re the Incredible Testosterone Hulk.
Because at a time when I could be having massive amounts of sex from not just from my wife and my boyfriend, but from the offers I get every weekend that I’m out at clubs, I have no libido at all. Compared to when I was an ugly little male-looking-person and had all sorts of libido, but couldn’t even ask the time without someone tossing a drink in my face.