ABOUT ORCHIDECTOMY

Also known as Orchiectomy, Testicle removal surgery.

Orchidectomy is the removal of one or both testicles (testes), the male sex organs that produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone.

Male Genitalia

An orchiectomy is done if a tumor is found in testis itself or to lower the level of testosterone, as in certain cancers, eg. prostate cancer or cancer of the male breast (as testosterone causes these cancers to grow and metastasize). An orchiectomy is also done to prevent cancer in an undescended testicle or as part of gender reassignment surgery (male to female).

DURATION

Procedure takes about an hour. Hospital stay is of 1-3 days.

RECOVERY

Scrotal support is advised for two weeks.

Heavy lifting, vigorous exercise and sexual activity are to be avoided for first few weeks when healing takes place.

Regular activities are usually resumed within 1 to 2 weeks. And a full recovery can be expected within 2 to 4 weeks.

RISKS

Deep vein thrombosis
Bleeding
Infection
Infertility
Loss of sexual desire
Impotence
Depression
Hot flashes
Gynecomastia

PROCEDURE

It can be done under general or spinal anaesthesia, and can be of following types:

Simple orchiectomy

An incision is given in the midpoint of the scrotum and the testicles and parts of the spermatic cord are removed through it. If desired, a prosthetic testicle can be inserted before the incision is closed to give a normal appearance.

A simple orchiectomy is performed as part of gender reassignment surgery or as palliative treatment for advanced cancer of the prostate.

Radical or Inguinal orchiectomy

It is done when testicular cancer is suspected. It may be either unilateral, involving only one testicle, or bilateral. An incision is given in the groin/inguinal area and the entire spermatic cord and the testicle is removed. The cut is then sutured back.

You may also like to learn about:

Testicular Cancer
Circumcision
Varicocele
Phimosis
Testicle undescended
Hydrocoele