Orchiectomy is the type of surgery used to remove one and both testicles, or testes, in the body of a human male. It is also known as orchidectomy, generally in British publications. The process of removing both testicles is called a bilateral orchiectomy, and castration, due to the person is no longer able for reproduction. Emasculation is another term which is sometimes applied for castration of a male. Castration in females is the surgical process of removing both ovaries.
Simple orchiectomy
A simple orchiectomy is done as part of gender reassignment operation and as palliative procedure for the latest cancer of the prostate. The patient sleeps flat on an operated table with the penis attached against the abdomen. After the anesthetic has been provided, the doctor builds an incision in the middle of the scrotum and cuts through the underlying tissue. The surgeon is removing the testicles and parts of the spermatic cord by using the incision.
Subcapsular orchiectomy
A subcapsular orchiectomy is also done to cure and treat prostate cancer. The surgery is likely to be a simple orchiectomy, with the necessity that the glandular tissue is removed from the lining of both testicles rather than the whole gland being removed.
Inguinal orchiectomy
An inguinal orchiectomy, which is popularly known as a radical orchiectomy, is performed when testicular cancer is suspected. It may be an unilateral cancer, which involves single testicle, or bilateral cancer. This treatment is called an inguinal orchiectomy because the surgeon makes the incision, which is around 3 in 7.6 cm in length in the patient’s groin part rather than connectically into the scrotum. Another one is a radical orchiectomy due to the surgeon removing the complete spermatic cord and the testicle itself.
