Orchiectomy

Surgery Overview

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Orchiectomy is the removal of the testicles, a man's main source of testosterone, which prostate cancer usually needs to continue growing.

What To Expect After Surgery

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Orchiectomy can be done as an outpatient procedure or with a short hospital stay. Regular activities are usually resumed within 1 to 2 weeks, and a full recovery can be expected within 2 to 4 weeks.

Why It Is Done

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Orchiectomy may help relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and prolong survival for advanced prostate cancer. Radiation treatment is sometimes needed as well.

How Well It Works

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Orchiectomy often causes the tumor to shrink and relieves bone pain.

This surgery does not cure prostate cancer, although it may prolong survival.

Risks

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Orchiectomy causes sudden hormone changes in the body. Side effects from hormone changes include:

• Sterility.
• Loss of sexual interest.
• Erection problems.
• Hot flashes.
• Larger breasts (gynecomastia).
• Weight gain.
• Loss of muscle mass.
• Thin or brittle bones (osteoporosis)

What To Think About

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Removing the testicles has the same effect as hormone treatment. Some men may prefer surgery over hormone therapy, which involves taking pills daily or having injections every 1 to 4 months. And orchiectomy costs less overall. But a benefit of hormone therapy is that you can stop taking the hormone drugs, while an orchiectomy is permanent.

Some men choose to have reconstructive surgery after an orchiectomy, in which the surgeon replaces the testicles with artificial testicles.

Complete the surgery information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.

Credits

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Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
Last Updated	July 24, 2006