What is chemical castration and how does it work? & bull; hello healthy

Chemical castration is one of the punishments for perpetrators of sexual violence against children in Indonesia. This is explained in Perppu No.1 of 2016 concerning Child Protection, particularly in article 81 (concerning sanctions against perpetrators of rape) and Article 82 (concerning sanctions against perpetrators of sexual immorality). Sexual violence against children is often linked to pedophilia. Pedophilia is defined as continued sexual interest in children under the age of 13. The American Psychological Association states that pedophilia is a mental disorder, and that sexual relations between adults and children are always wrong.

What is castration?

Castration in men is a procedure in which a person will lose testicular function, so they lose libido and are infertile. Castration has two different types of procedures, namely by surgery and chemical processes. In surgical castration, or testicular surgery, the effect is permanent. However, in chemical castration, drugs will be given periodically to reduce testosterone levels in the body, thereby reducing sex drive.

Chemical castration process

Chemical castration is performed using antiandrogen drugs to reduce testosterone levels, which can suppress libido or sex drive. This procedure is commonly used to treat advanced prostate cancer, and in some cases, it is used as a sexual crime rehabilitation therapy. Unlike surgical castration which is permanent, the effects of chemical castration on a person can wear off over time after treatment is stopped.

Chemical castration works to accelerate the metabolism of natural testosterone, alter the effects of hormones in the body, and affect the release of the pituitary gland from precursor hormones for testosterone production. The drug options most commonly used in the procedure are medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and cyproterone acetate. These drugs can effectively reduce testosterone levels in men, reduce sex drive, and reduce their ability to be sexually stimulated.

Chemical castration law in Indonesia

In Indonesia, the Perppu was created to weigh down sentences and provide additional penalties for perpetrators of sexual crimes against children, in the form of:

Death penalty, life sentence, or a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years if the victim is more than one person, resulting in serious injuries, mental disorders, infectious diseases, disturbed or lost reproduction, and / or the victim dies.
Announcement to the public about the identity of the perpetrator.
Giving chemical castration injections accompanied by rehabilitation.
Providing electronic detection devices (chips) to the perpetrators to find out the whereabouts of ex-convicts, so that it is easy to perform chemical castration, and find out the whereabouts of the ex-convicts

Pros and cons of chemical castration

1. Safe and effective in reducing libido

The drugs used in the procedure can dramatically reduce the amount of testosterone produced in the testicles, and suppress sex drive without diminishing a person's ability to have sex. Men who are chemically neutered can still have sex, it's just that their desire to engage in sexual activity will no longer exist.

2. Reducing the level of recidivism (repetition of despicable acts)

As has been shown previously, large studies conducted on chemical castration for sex offenders have noted dramatic reductions in relapse rates. According to several studies, the recidivism rate for second sexual offenses is only about 2%, compared to 40% without chemical treatment.

3. Has negative health effects

Although the effects of this procedure may disappear after treatment is stopped, side effects can continue to appear over time. Among these are loss of bone density which is directly related to osteoporosis, and loss of muscle mass accompanied by increased body fat that triggers heart disease. Other side effects include erectile dysfunction, infertility, hair loss, and weakness.

4. Violating human rights for criminals

Opponents of the chemical castration law believe that forcing sex offenders to undergo treatment that affects sexual reproduction and sex drive totally violates the criminal's constitutional rights. However, for some offenders, they will voluntarily choose to be chemically castrated rather than have an indefinite sentence.