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Orchiectomy
What is it? Overview Usage Side Effects and Warnings
Answers

What is Orchiectomy?

Orchiectomy is a surgery to remove one or both testicles.

Male Genitalia
Male Genitalia
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An orchiectomy may be done to treat:

  • Prostate cancer that has spread
  • Testicular cancer
  • Testicular torsion (when twisting of the spermatic cord cuts off blood supply)

It can also be a diagnostic procedure to determine if cancer is present when a mass is found during ultrasound.

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have an orchiectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

  • Nerve injury or damage to surrounding tissue or structures
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Reaction to anesthesia

Discuss these risks with your doctor before the surgery.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

  • Increasing pain, discharge, redness, or swelling at the incision site
  • Pus or odor from the incision site
  • A lot of bleeding
  • Stitches loosen or fall out
  • Signs of infection, including fever and chills

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.

 
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