Orchiectomy

June 8, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Alexander Chehrazi-Raffle, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope®Duarte Cancer Center and Ali Zhumkhawala, M.D., associate professor, Department of Surgery, City of Hope® Duarte Cancer Center. 

Almost all testicular cancers are treated with surgery, even when they have spread beyond the testicle. The most common surgery is an orchiectomy to remove one or both testicles.

In all, 98% of men diagnosed with testicular cancer have cancer in one testicle, not both. Removing one testicle typically does not affect a person’s ability to father children. If cancer is found in both testicles, the standard treatment is a bilateral orchiectomy to remove them both, but some patients may be candidates for a partial orchiectomy, or testis-sparing surgery, in order to preserve part of one testicle.

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be given after surgery for testicular cancer in order to destroy any remaining cancer cells or prevent cancer from returning.

What Is an Orchiectomy?

An orchiectomy, sometimes called orchidectomy, is surgery to remove one or both testicles. It is performed to diagnose and treat testicular cancer. Even when it is performed for a diagnostic procedure to confirm cancer, doctors typically remove the entire testicle instead of taking tissue samples through a biopsy due to the risk of cancer cells spreading throughout the scrotum or nearby lymph nodes.

The testicles are the body’s main source of male hormones, such as testosterone. These male hormones, or androgens, may help cancer cells grow, and when the testicles are removed, there are fewer androgens in the body. 

Radical Orchiectomy

Radical inguinal orchiectomy is the full name of the surgery to remove an entire testicle. If both testicles are removed, it is called a bilateral orchiectomy. Orchiectomy is typically an outpatient procedure and may be performed under general anesthesia or regional anesthesia.

During a radical orchiectomy, the surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen to access the testicle. Along with the testicle, the spermatic cord is removed, containing the vas deferens (which transports sperm from the testicle), as well as nerve, blood and lymph vessels. To prevent the potential spread of cancer cells through these vessels, the surgeon will tie them off before removal. The procedure lasts about 30 to 60 minutes.

After a radical orchiectomy, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be administered to destroy any remaining cancer cells or prevent cancer from returning. When treating advanced-stage testicular cancer that has spread, chemotherapy may be given before an orchiectomy.

Partial Orchiectomy

Partial orchiectomy, also called testis-sparing surgery or testicle-sparing surgery, may be an option for some patients. It is sometimes considered when the tumor is very small — less than 2 centimeters — and one of the following is true:

• Tumor markers (proteins or genetic changes resulting from cancer) are normal and an ultrasound and physical exam do not show a clear result.
• The person has only one testicle.
• Tumors develop in both testicles around the same time.

In a partial orchiectomy, surgeons make an incision in the lower abdomen as they would for a radical orchiectomy. They then remove the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue around it. The procedure takes approximately 60 minutes, and it should only be performed by a surgeon with experience doing this type of surgery.

Orchiectomy Recovery

Because orchiectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, a person who has had the surgery will likely go home the same day.

For the first few days and up to a week:

• There may be discomfort, swelling and bruising.
• It is important to keep comfortable during recovery by wearing loose-fitting clothing.
• Icing the area and taking over-the-counter pain medicine may help with pain and swelling.
• Patients may wear a scrotal support or jock strap to reduce swelling.
• Patients are advised not to exercise or do anything physically taxing, including having sex.
• A full return to normal activities typically happens within a few weeks.

Orchiectomy Side Effects

If only one testicle is removed in a radical orchiectomy, patients are still able to produce sperm in the remaining testicle, and their testosterone levels may not be affected.

When both testicles are removed, testosterone levels will drop. The patient also will no longer be able to produce sperm.

Low testosterone levels may cause:

• Decreased sex drive
• Decreased ability to have an erection
• Hot flashes
• Depression and mood changes
• Fatigue
• Loss of muscle
• Weakened bones

Testosterone supplements may be taken to manage these side effects. They come in several forms, including patches, gels and shots.

A partial orchiectomy may not affect hormone levels, but the procedure does come with a potential risk for testicular atrophy, in which the testicle gets smaller and may stop functioning.

Testicular Implants

Since a radical orchiectomy removes an entire testicle, some men may consider having a prosthetic testicle implanted during the procedure or at a later time. Modern testicular implants are filled with saline, come in several sizes and have the same weight and consistency as a natural testicle.

Getting a testicular implant does come with some risks. There may be infection, scarring, shortening or hardening of the surrounding tissue, or the implant may burst.

Not everyone who has an orchiectomy chooses to get a testicular implant. For those who do, it may alleviate concerns about appearing different and increase their confidence in their body.