An orchidectomy (also called orchiectomy) is done to help control the growth of prostate cancer.
It is an operation to remove your testicles (testes). Prostate cancer needs testosterone in
order to grow. Testosterone is the male sex hormone produced by the testicles. If the testicles
are removed, the level of testosterone in your blood falls very quickly. And in 9 out of 10 men
(90%) the prostate cancer will stop growing and start to shrink.
Orchidectomy is not used very often these days because hormone treatments are available that can
reduce testosterone levels. Some men choose to have an orchidectomy. They like the fact that it
is one treatment compared to the injections which you have either monthly or 3 monthly. Other
men don’t like the fact that the surgery is not reversible and they worry about how they will
feel about themselves after having their testicles removed. It is important to talk through with
your doctor the pros and cons of having an orchidectomy.