REMOVAL OF TESTES-ORCHECTOMY

WHAT DO TESTES DO?

The testicles are part of the male reproductive system.

• The testicles are two oval organs located inside the scrotum. Scrotum: The loose sac of skin hanging under the penis.

• The testicles make male hormones, including testosterone, and produce sperm, which are male reproductive cells.

• Trauma to the testicles or testicles can lead to serious complications such as disorders, hormonal imbalances, sexual dysfunction and infertility.

WHAT DISORDERS AFFECT THE TESTES?

Some of the common disorders that affect the testicles include:

Testicular trauma or physical injury

• Unlike other body organs, testicles are not protected by muscle or bone and are therefore vulnerable to impact and injury.

Testicular torsion

• The spermatic cord, which fixes the testicles at both ends, twists around a testis, cutting off the blood supply to the testicles. Symptoms of testicular torsion include sudden and severe pain, enlargement of the affected testicle, tenderness, and swelling.

• This is a medical emergency and if blood flow to the testicles is interrupted for an extended period of time, the testis can be permanently damaged and the problem can be corrected by surgical removal of the testis.

Testicular rupture

• A rare type of testicular trauma called testicular rupture occurs when the testicle receives a direct blow or is squeezed against the hard surface of the pelvis. This injury can cause blood to leak into the scrotum. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to repair the rupture and save the testicles.

Cancer

• Testicular cancer can develop in one or both testicles in men or young men. Testicular cancer symptoms may include a lump, irregularity, or enlargement in both testicles; a pulling sensation or unusual heaviness in the scrotum; a dull pain in the groin or lower abdomen; and pain or discomfort (which may come and go) in a testicle or scrotum.

• Surgery is the most common treatment for testicular cancer and involves removing one or both testicles.

Undescended testis (cryptorchidism)

• This is a condition in which the testicles do not descend into the scrotum from the abdomen where they were during development before birth. This is an important risk factor for testicular cancer.