An orchiectomy is a common treatment for testicular cancer. It may also be done to treat other conditions such as prostate cancer or in the event of severe trauma to one or both testes. When this surgery is done for testicular cancer, it is called a radical inguinal orchiectomy.

Why do men get orchiectomy?

An orchiectomy is surgery done to remove one or both of your testicles. It’s commonly performed to treat or prevent prostate cancer from spreading. An orchiectomy can treat or prevent testicular cancer and breast cancer in men, too.

What does an orchiectomy do?

An orchiectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both testicles. Providers use this procedure to treat and prevent testicular cancer as well as treat male breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Is orchiectomy necessary?

Why Get Orchiectomy? It’s usually needed to treat testicular cancer. But it can also help if a testicle is damaged by infection or injury. Sometimes it’s part of prostate cancer treatment.

Does orchiectomy cause impotence?

observed that about 17% had a reduced perception of masculinity induced by orchiectomy. This was associated with a 9-fold increased risk of erectile dysfunction and a 15-fold increased risk of sexual discomfort (10).

When is an orchiectomy indicated?

Orchiectomy is always done when testicular cancer is suspected. This is because testicular lumps are often cancerous and must be removed as part of treatment. Also, performing a biopsy on a testicle before it is surgically removed can cause cancer cells to spread, making successful treatment more difficult.

What is the effect of having only one testicle?

Remember, one testicle can provide enough testosterone for you to get an erection and ejaculate. This is also enough to produce adequate sperm for fertilization. As long as you’re in good health and don’t have any underlying conditions that could impact your fertility, you should be able to have children.

What is a man's balls made of?

Each testicle is covered by tough, fibrous layers of tissue called the tunica. The outer layer is called the tunica vaginalis and the inner layer is called the tunica albuginea. The testicle is divided into parts called lobules. Each lobule contains tiny U-shaped tubes called seminiferous tubules.

Which testis is more important?

It’s normal for one of your testicles to be bigger than the other. The right testicle tends to be the bigger one. One of them also usually hangs a little lower than the other within the scrotum.

Can a man live without his testes?

If you were to lose both testicles however, it does make the situation slightly more complex, but you can still live a normal life. ‘Men who lose both testicles are likely to have erection problems due to the reduced levels of testosterone,’ says Cornes. ‘They will also be unable to father a child naturally.

Article first time published on