Chemical castration

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Chemical castration is a form of temporary castration caused by hormonal medication. It is a preventive measure or punishment for those who have committed violent sex crimes such as rape, or for other crimes such as child sexual abuse, which may or may not be violent in nature. Depo-Provera, a progestin, is a drug that is sometimes used in treatment of sex offenders.

Chemical castration in the United States

According to Jeffrey Kirchmeier, at least six states have experimented with chemical castration laws in the United States. Those states are California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and Montana. California was the first state to use chemical castration as a punishment for sex offenders. In California, judges may require first-time offenders to undergo chemical castration. After a second offense treatment is mandatory. In Iowa and Florida chemical castration is available in all cases involving serious sex offenses. As in California treatment is mandatory after a second offense.

Criticism

Though generally considered more humane than surgical castration, chemical castration has attracted a number of critics.

The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the coerced administration of any drug, including antiandrogen drugs for sex offenders. They argued in 1997 that forced chemical castration was a "cruel and unusual punishment", and thereby constitutionally prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. They also stated that it interfered with sex offenders' "right to procreate", and could expose users to various health problems.

Large doses are required to be effective in men. Most men will receive 400mg to 500mg per week. In some cases, men given oral doses as high as 700 mg/day have still reported regular sexual arousal and fantasies.

Side effects

The use of Depo-Provera can cause several side effects including weight gain, fatigue, thromboembolism, malaise, hypertension, mild depression, hypoglycemia and rare changes in liver enzymes.

In addition to ethical concerns, chemical castration may increase blood pressure in males, sometimes to dangerous levels. Chemical castration may sometimes cause gynecomastia, a side effect that is sometimes treated with tamoxifen, a SERM. Other side effects, such as the formation of abnormal fat deposits in the liver, are being investigated.