A young 17 year old Bolivian castrated his own testicles because he was dissatisfied with his identity and wanted to look like a woman, although his life was in danger because it caused severe bleeding, local media reported.

Doctor Beckep Barragan, head of the Urology Unit in the La Paz Clinical Hospital confirmed to the La Razon newspaper that the young man came to the medical center on Sunday with severe bleeding and had to undergo surgery from which he recovered and was discharged on Thursday.

According to the doctor, the young man said he sought both medical professionals and family to get a castration operation, but found no support and instead opted for self-castration..

The young man admitted that after reseraching the removal of testes in books and on internet, he injected local anesthesia into his genitals and guided by a mirror made an incision in the scrotum to begin his castration. Unfortunately, massive bleeding occurred, which apparently his internet research did not prepare him to handle.

The patient told the doctor he had decided castration was the only option in insuring himself softer skin, a higher, more subtle voice and prevent the growth of pubic hair; all traits he deeply desired.

“While these practices are incredibly painful, they (the young men) performed them in their desperation to become women,”

We’ve had other patients, all with the same characteristics, all of whom had severed their own testicles, though there was one who also attempted to sever his entire penis,”

-Dr. Barragan said, saying that is the fifth time since 2004 that the teaching hospital has treated this type of case.