Testicular Cancer Surgery

Orchiectomy

Surgery to remove the testicle through an incision in the groin is called a radical inguinal orchiectomy.The scrotal sac is left in place.

Men may be concerned that losing a testicle will affect their ability to have sexual intercourse or make them sterile (unable to produce children). A man with 1 remaining healthy testicle can, however, still have a normal erection and produce sperm. Therefore, an operation to remove 1 testicle does not make a man impotent (unable to have an erection) and seldom interferes with fertility.

Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND)

Some of the lymph nodes located deep in the abdomen may be removed during an orchiectomy in a procedure called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. This type of surgery does not change your ability to have an erection or an orgasm, but it can cause sterility because it interferes with ejaculation.

During an orchiectomy, which requires general anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the groin area, pushes the testicle up, disconnects the testicle from its blood supply, and removes the testicle through the incision.

The procedure takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour and sometimes requires an overnight stay in the hospital. Your surgeon can replace the removed testicle with prosthesis. The implant has the weight and feel of a normal testicle.