The term “castration” means complete or partial suppression of the functions of the gonads. Usually such manipulation is carried out for medical purposes. Male castration, also known as orchiectomy, is a surgical procedure to remove the testicles.
Castration of men is an operation in which the testicles are removed. Such manipulation helps to stop the production of sperm. The natural result of such an intervention is the inability of a man to become fertilized.
Indications for castration are various pathological processes that threaten the life of a man. In particular, this.
Castration can be complete or partial. In the first case, both testicles are removed, in the second - one of them.
There are two known types of such an operation - chemical and surgical castration.
During chemical castration, a special substance is introduced into the body - exogenous testosterone, which suppresses the production of male sex hormones and stops the production of seminal fluid. For this to happen, the drug must be taken on a regular basis. This method is not radical because it is temporary.
What is chemical castration? Watch the video below for more details:
Chemical castration is used as a punishment for perpetrators of rape, and also as a preventive measure against pedophiles.
This method of castration is considered quite harmful to health.
Castration of a person, which is carried out through surgery, consists of clamping and truncation of the spermatic cord. Surgical castration is a simple procedure and in most cases does not cause complications.
Surgery can be performed at any age. Castration of boys (partial, involving the removal of one testicle) allows you to preserve not only health, but also sexual function.
The advantages of such an operation include a relatively rapid onset of therapeutic effect, minimal risk of complications, and an increase in the patient’s life expectancy.
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure that involves ligating the vas deferens.
Disadvantages of orchiectomy are loss of fertilization ability, excess weight gain after surgery, decreased sex drive, and emotional instability.
Another way to suppress the production of the gonads is their irradiation, which contributes to the suppression of testicular function.
Castration should not be confused with concepts such as (sterilization) and penectomy. A vasectomy is an operation to ligate the vas deferens, which does not entail changes in a man’s hormonal levels. As for a penectomy, this is an operation that involves removing the penis.
Indications
The operation is performed for compelling medical reasons, provided that removal of the testicles will help save the patient's life.
Factors that require castration include:
- Malignant neoplasms of the prostate or testicles;
- Mechanical damage to the testicles, the degree of which does not imply restoration of their natural function;
- Severe infections (tuberculous orchitis);
- Organ atrophy caused by varicose veins;
Urologist Iskander Abdulin will tell you more about the disease cryptorchidism - undescended testicle into the scrotum:
- Twisting of the spermatic cord, which can lead to tissue death;
- A sharp increase in testosterone, significantly exceeding normal levels, which cannot be managed using conservative methods;
- Anomalies in the development of the genital organs. The most common is . This condition creates a risk of developing tumors in the future, as well as serious hormonal imbalances.
Another reason why testicles are removed is a man’s desire to undergo sex reassignment surgery.
Castration is not carried out in the presence of common serious diseases - pathologies of the heart muscle, kidneys, lungs, liver, infectious diseases.
If a young guy has to undergo surgery for medical reasons, he can visit a fertility specialist and donate seminal fluid, which will be frozen and subsequently allow the operated father to become a father through IVF.
How does castration occur?
Surgical castration is carried out only after the patient passes the necessary tests. Urine and blood tests are usually required. A cardiogram, fluorography, and HIV testing are also performed.
If the testicles are removed due to the presence of a tumor, an additional puncture is performed. For prostate cancer, the patient is first prescribed radiation sessions or a course of chemotherapy. 8-10 hours before the operation, the man must refuse to take any food or liquid. The manipulation is performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia.
The operation proceeds as follows:
- The skin in the groin area is freed from hair;
- The penis is secured to the stomach using an elastic bandage;
- The groin area is treated with an anesthetic, and an anesthetic substance is injected into the scrotal suture;
Progress of the orchiectomy operation
- A shallow incision is made in the scrotum area, through which the testicle and spermatic cord are removed. For prostate cancer, an incision is made in the groin area;
- The testicle is ligated and removed, the stump of the cord is inserted into the scrotum;
- A suture is placed on the incision area.
There are several options for the operation:
- Removal of testicles with epididymis and tunica albuginea;
- Removal of testicles without removal of epididymis;
- Preservation of the testicular membrane and epididymis and extraction of exclusively testicular tissue.
External defects that result from orchiectomy—asymmetry and “compression” of the scrotum—can be corrected using a prosthetic procedure. For these purposes, implants are used that imitate the size and shape of the organ.
Carrying out such an operation does not require a long recovery period: the very next day the man can return to his usual activities. However, you should avoid playing sports, going to the sauna or bathhouse, lifting weights, or taking baths for several weeks. It is not recommended to have sex until the stitch is healed.
Life after orchiectomy
The rehabilitation period after testicular removal is characterized by a favorable course. Complications occur quite rarely, but the possibility of their occurrence also cannot be excluded.
In the first days after surgery, a man may feel chills and pain in the perineal area. These are normal phenomena that disappear on their own within a few days.
The consequences of removing the testicles include suppuration of the wound surface, bleeding, and recurrence of the tumor process.
It is recommended that you apply an ice pack to the groin area for several days after your orchiectomy to help relieve swelling.
Preparing a cold compress
For 7-10 days after surgery, it is necessary to treat the postoperative wound with antiseptic solutions.
Post-castration syndrome is the characteristics of the psychological state of a man who has undergone surgery to remove the testicles. After castration, a man is prone to depression, which is quite natural. The operated patient is acutely experiencing a decrease in sexual activity, worries about a cosmetic flaw, and the inability to become a father. To stabilize a man’s psycho-emotional state, psychotherapy sessions are recommended.
Consequences of the operation
The consequences of such a serious operation as testicular removal include:
- Impotence. Erectile dysfunction inevitably develops in all cases if both testicles were removed at once;
- Increased risk of developing diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis;
- Decreased libido associated with a deficiency of male sex hormones;
- Depressive state;
- Hormonal imbalance, manifested in an increase in the size of the mammary glands, sudden weight gain, the appearance of stretch marks on the skin, periodic hot flashes, increased sweating;
- Fatigue;
- Low sensitivity of the skin in the scrotum and groin area.
Psychotherapist Boris Gorodkov will tell you more about erectile dysfunction:
All described consequences are the result of bilateral intervention. With unilateral removal, the remaining testicle performs the necessary functions, so hormonal imbalances and infertility do not develop in this case.
In most cases, the indication for orchiectomy is prostate cancer. The results of the operation depend on the stage of the pathological process at the time of the operation. The five-year survival rate after testicular removal in the absence of metastases is 95%.
In 40-50% of cases, patients whose malignant cells have not spread beyond the pelvic organs live for 10 years or more.
Recurrence of prostate cancer is observed in 80% of those operated on over the next year. This is due to the content of a large amount of a special substance in cancer cells, which can adapt to low testosterone levels and provoke further tumor formation.
Stabilization of condition during rehabilitation
After an orchiectomy, a man takes medications that combat consequences such as hot flashes, hormonal imbalances, and rapid heartbeat.
If signs of endocrine disorders are pronounced, the patient is prescribed treatment with hormonal drugs (“Testenat”, “Testobromlecit”).
Also, after the operation, the man is prescribed antibacterial drugs to reduce the risk of possible complications.
Testenate is an androgenic agent that has an anabolic effect
If removal of the testicles was required to stop the growth of a malignant neoplasm in the prostate gland, treatment with ionizing therapy or a course of chemotherapy may be prescribed to prevent relapse.
Castration of men is a forced operation, the implementation of which allows saving the life of the patient. If one testicle is removed, the man may become a father in the future. In addition, he does not experience hormonal imbalance. Bilateral removal of the gonads inevitably leads to loss of fertility and decreased libido.
Castration of men implies the suppression or complete cessation of the function of the gonads of the male body. Surgery to remove the testicles can be performed in several ways, usually only for medical reasons. However, sometimes the procedure can be carried out violently, for example, for ritual purposes, for the purpose of punishment and some others.
What kind of procedure is this, how is it carried out, what features and consequences can the operation have?
Castration: a little history
Castration is an operation involving the removal of a person's gonads. Historians claim that human castration is considered one of the first surgical procedures, after which doctors began to use anesthesia.
This operation has been practiced since ancient times, performed as a rather painful torture, punishment, for the recruitment of servants in harems, called eunuchs. In the Roman Empire, criminals were castrated for the atrocities they committed, one of which were crimes against the emperor. In Ancient China, this method of punishment could even be used for an insult to the emperor.
Another reason for performing this procedure in medieval Europe was to preserve the singing abilities of boys who had a high, clear voice and an unusual timbre, which could be preserved forever if the procedure was successfully performed. In Italy at that time, up to five thousand boys were castrated annually, and the operation itself could be performed in almost every hairdresser.
It is worth noting that the method most often used for this procedure was absolutely merciless - the boys’ testicles were simply crushed with various forceps, clamps, or even just fingers. After the destruction of the parenchyma of the testicles, their functions ceased, the likelihood of infection was practically absent, and there was no need to spend money on the work of doctors. However, the torment was so severe that a large number of boys died from painful shock.
In ancient Rome, to carry out the procedure, the penis was simply placed in a special ring and squeezed using special levers, after which all that remained was to cut off the scrotum.
In Russia, castration was also used more than two centuries ago, at the end of the eighteenth century, when there were religious sects of eunuchs, which practiced castration of sect members for the sake of the ideals to which they were committed.
Methods of castration
Currently, castration is carried out in the following ways:
- radiation method;
- hormonal castration;
- chemical method;
- surgical intervention.
With the radiation method, the male gonads are irradiated, as a result of which their functions are completely inhibited.
During hormonal castration, hormonal drugs are introduced, the action of which causes a temporary “switching off” of the hormonal glands. This method is used when there are existing contraindications for the use of surgical intervention.
Of course, many are interested in how chemical castration of a person is carried out, and what kind of method it is. This is a fairly simple method that involves the administration of certain drugs to reduce sexual desire to exclude the possibility of sexual intercourse.
Surgical castration can be complete, in which the functioning of the endocrine and generative systems ceases, and partial, which involves the cessation of only one of the functions.
Indications for castration
Surgical intervention is indicated in the following cases:
- in the presence of a testicular tumor or the appearance of a neoplasm in the prostate;
- pathologies of the spermatic cord that prevent adequate blood supply to the organ;
- pathological abnormalities in testosterone production;
- testicular injuries that do not imply the possibility of their recovery;
- sex reassignment surgery.
Surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. In the presence of malignant tumors, sometimes only resection of the parenchyma is performed, without resorting to complete removal of the gonads.
Carrying out the procedure
The operation of castration of a man is a simple procedure; serious complications are very rare. Before the procedure, preparation is required:
- conduct a medical examination;
- pass the necessary tests;
- notify your doctor about medications you are taking that may affect blood clotting;
- 8 hours before surgery, stop eating and drinking.
Carrying out the operation:
- the groin area is freed from hair;
- anesthesia is performed;
- the doctor makes an incision in the scrotum, through which the testicle and spermatic cord are removed;
- the cord is truncated, its stump is returned to the scrotum and a suture is applied.
Currently, it is possible to carry out a procedure that allows you to preserve the white membrane of the testicles, as a result of which the genital organs remain visible.
The operation takes little time, and in most cases no complications arise either during the procedure or after it. The patient is usually sent home on the day of surgery, advised to abstain from physical activity for several weeks, bathing and sexual intercourse until complete recovery. The bandage must be kept in place for about two weeks.
Complications that may occur
About a month after the operation, many men may develop a condition called post-castration syndrome, which is characterized by the occurrence of endocrine, vegetative-vascular and mental disorders.
The consequences of castration in men manifest themselves in the form of the following symptoms:
- the man begins to experience so-called “hot flashes”;
- causeless sweating and rapid heartbeat appear;
- There may be surges in blood pressure;
- headaches and heart pain occur;
- pain appears in the lower back and joints;
- sudden weight gain may occur;
- the man feels tired and overwhelmed;
- frequent dizziness;
- memory deteriorates;
- a man may feel sudden physical or mental tension;
- female-type hair growth may begin;
- there is a decrease in libido due to decreased testosterone production;
- depression develops.
The most undesirable consequence is that there remains a possibility, albeit low, that the tumors can continue to grow. However, a man should know that if the doctor is convinced that the only chance to preserve health and life is surgical intervention, then he must agree to the procedure.
These symptoms reach their peak several months after the operation. In most men, one type of disorder is more pronounced.
In serious cases, complex therapy for post-castration syndrome is necessary, including taking medications that normalize the functions of certain parts of the brain. In addition, complex therapy includes physical therapy classes, physiotherapy, taking vitamin complexes and other medications, which the doctor will select depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.
It is important to carry out the necessary psychotherapeutic preparation of a man for the possible consequences of the procedure before the procedure itself, so that the man is ready for the changes that await him.
At the same time, doctors claim that in men who have sexual experience before surgery, removal of the testicles does not lead to irreversible consequences, the man’s sexual function is preserved, and he will be able to have sex in the future as before, and the man will not have to worry about contraception , because reproductive functions are completely lost.
Chemical castration of a person is like
It can be said that chemical castration of men is to some extent an alternative to surgical intervention. At the same time, chemical exposure does not cause such serious harm to a man’s health as surgery.
The action of chemical castration is aimed at suppressing sexual function from the action of medications that inhibit the production of germ cells in the male body.
Under the influence of these drugs, a man stops producing germ cells called sperm, and also completely loses interest in sex. This method is usually used as punishment for sex offenders whose sexual behavior poses a danger to people. This method is not radical, because after stopping medication, a man’s sexual functions are restored over time.
Attention, TODAY only!
The medical term “castration” is a definition of complete or partial suppression of the gonads.
Castration of men is the removal of the testicles or the reduction (cessation) of their functionality by X-ray, chemical, hormonal or surgical methods.
This operation is carried out for medical reasons, but can also be used forcibly in order to punish a criminal, depriving him of the ability to have sexual intercourse (chemical castration).
After castration, a man’s body undergoes serious changes at the physical, mental and hormonal levels.
Numerous complications are possible after surgery, so there must be compelling reasons for castration that have no other solution than resection or decreased function of the genitals, namely the gonads.
Surgical intervention to remove the testicles has been common since ancient times: as torture, punishment, slavery (eunuchs in the harems of eastern countries).
Later, castration became one of the methods of treating various diseases, including mental disorders. According to historical information, castration is one of the first surgical interventions using anesthesia.
Castrated people were also present in Russia: at the end of the 18th century, a religious sect of eunuchs was formed on Russian lands, whose members independently performed castration (removal of the testicles along with the penis) in order to serve their ideals.
Italy, until the 19th century, practiced the technique of castrating boys with unique singing abilities. The operation was carried out to preserve unusual voice timbres: soprano and contralto.
The castrato's voice was distinguished by high pitch, flexibility and effeminacy, but at the same time it had greater strength, so he performed any long virtuoso ranges. In Italy, castration could be done at any hairdresser.
Various methods of castration
There are several different methods of castration:
Features of the procedure
Medical indications for castration in men may include: bilateral testicular tumors or untreatable neoplasms in the prostate. In these situations, testicular resection (orchidectomy) is recommended.
In case of malignant formation, it is not necessary to completely remove the gonads; the patient may be prescribed enucleation or resection of the parenchyma.
Surgical intervention is performed only after confirmation of a non-therapeutic neoplasm.
As a result of resection, the following modifications begin in the man’s body:
- hypodermis develops;
- hair growth follows the female pattern;
- libido decreases;
- the prostate atrophies.
If the operation was performed on a patient who has not reached puberty, the structure of the bone tissue changes:
- long and short bones lengthen;
- cranial bones stop growing;
- active expression of the frontal bone and jaw begins.
As a result of chemical, radiation, or surgical castration, the functioning of the entire endocrine system of the body is disrupted.
Preparation and performance of the operation
Before surgery, a thorough examination is carried out using instrumental and laboratory methods:
- clinical urine analysis;
- blood biochemistry study (determining the level of bilirubin, creatinine, protein, hemoglobin, cholesterol);
- diagnostics for hepatitis, syphilis, immunodeficiency;
- X-ray examination;
- electrocardiography;
- hormonal examination.
If there are any additional pathologies (except for the testicles and prostate), the patient is referred for additional examinations to specialized specialists. 
A few weeks before surgery, you should stop taking blood thinning medications.
The operation itself does not present any difficulty (including for medical reasons); the use of other medications depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the indications for the use of drugs.
The annular ligament descending the egg is sutured, tied, and dissected. The excretory duct canal is tied and cut off.
After this, the remaining sections of the spermatic cord are stitched, bandaged and dissected, a suture is applied, and the operation is completed.
Important! In practice, a more subtle plastic procedure is used to preserve the protein sac of the testicles and the cosmetic visibility of the genitals.
During any surgical intervention on the testicles, complications do not arise; patients can be sent home directly on the day of the operation.
Consequences and complications
A month after surgery, many patients develop post-castration syndrome. Complications affect the endocrine, vegetative-vascular system and affect mental health.
The most common consequences of the operation:
- tides;
- cardiopalmus;
- increased sweating;
- recurrent headaches;
- hypertension;
- obesity;
- osteoporosis;
- mental disorders;
- depression;
- memory impairment;
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- atherosclerosis;
- impotence;
- diabetes.
The most negative consequence that can happen to patients is the possibility that the tumor tissue will adapt to the treatment and the tumor will continue to grow.
Treatment of postoperative syndrome
Before prescribing therapeutic treatment, it is necessary to make sure that the causes of the symptoms are the surgery and not other pathologies.
The patient's chronic disease records are reviewed to determine the etiology. All therapeutic prescriptions depend on the characteristics and general condition of the patient in each specific case.
Therapeutic therapy for postoperative complications is carried out in a complex, which consists of:
- use of sedatives, restoratives, neuroleptics, vitamin complexes, tranquilizers;
- physical therapy classes;
- hydrotherapy (rubbing, dousing);
- physiotherapy;
- additional hormonal treatment.
The prognosis for rehabilitation depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. Basically, it is possible to stop vegetative-vascular and neurological manifestations. Only endocrine metabolic processes require long-term rehabilitation and replacement treatment.
Sterilization or vasectomy
The operation is often confused with castration, but the differences between them are huge:
- castration involves removal of the testicles, or as in the case of chemical therapy: deprivation of the ability to have sexual intercourse;
- Sterilization (vasectomy) is a blocking of the reproductive system, after which potency is completely preserved.
Surgical interventions of this kind began to be carried out 50 years ago; now it is a very popular method of family planning. As a rule, people come for sterilization on a voluntary basis. The reasons for undergoing a vasectomy vary, from unwillingness to have children to a genetic disease.
Surgical intervention is not complicated, has virtually no contraindications (except for generally accepted indications for operations), but it also requires careful preparation and preliminary examination.
The procedure involves blocking the seminal duct, preventing sperm from entering the semen. The procedure lasts no more than 30 minutes; after the operation, the patient can leave the clinic one hour later.
Pros and cons of sterilization
Sterilization is a voluntary procedure, so the decision depends entirely on the man personally. In some cases, with certain complications, the procedure can lead to impotence.
Positive sides
- Male sterilization is an irreversible procedure, unlike chemical castration. After surgery, you don’t have to worry about taking precautions against unwanted pregnancy. 2 months after the procedure, no sperm are found in the seminal fluid.
- The operation itself is quick and can be performed in a clinic.
- The stitches remain completely invisible and are practically invisible on the scrotum.
- Sterilization does not affect the general condition of the body, erection, or sensations during sexual intercourse.
- The operation itself partially rejuvenates the body (sometimes it is practiced specifically for rejuvenation).
- Sex life after sterilization is stable.
- The quantity and consistency of the seed does not change.
- It has no side effects, does not lead to obesity and does not affect the condition of the body.
Negative sides
- Before the operation, you need to come to terms with the fact that it will not be possible to conceive more children. The operation is largely irreversible, and the possibility of restoring reproductive abilities after sterilization is extremely small. It is possible to restore the ducts within five years after the procedure, but after reconstruction there is no guarantee that it will be possible to conceive.
- Additionally, some complications are possible: wound suppuration, bleeding, hematoma formation.
- Since sperm are completely removed from semen only after two months, during this time it is necessary to use additional contraceptives.
- There are negative consequences that can later lead to impotence and other sexual dysfunctions - these are orchitis and epidymitis. Such complications are possible if during the operation the areas of the testicles responsible for these functions are affected.
- Antisperm antibodies may begin to form.
Final anamnesis
Clinical manifestations of castration depend on the age period in which the operation was performed. Castration of boys leads to huge disturbances in the entire child's body, both in the physical and mental aspects.
Oriectomy of adults who have had sexual experience will no longer bring such irreparable consequences.
As a rule, castration of adults does not cause sexual dysfunction, but problems with the vegetative-vascular system and hormonal imbalance cannot be avoided.
Several decades ago, chemical sterilization was developed, which is considered the most humane and safe for human physical and mental health.
This technique is used to temporarily suppress sexual functions in men. This is a completely reversible process, as it occurs only as a result of taking medications; after stopping the use of medications, testosterone levels, libido and erection return to normal.
With prostate diseases, sometimes castration is the only way out of the situation, so if this procedure was prescribed for medical reasons, then there are simply no other options. Resection is also necessary in case of traumatic injury to the testicles in order to prevent the development of gangrene, blood poisoning and other life-threatening pathologies.
Oriectomy of one's own free will and desire, for gender reassignment or other purposes, is completely voluntary.
Here you should weigh your pros and cons and decide whether it is worth having an operation if there are no medical prescriptions for it, or not, because cutting it off is easy, but putting it back is very problematic, if not impossible.
When using such a concept as “castration”, they mean complete or partial suppression of the functions of the male gonads. In most cases, such surgery is for medical purposes. Male castration is scientifically known as orchiectomy, which means surgery to remove the testicles.
Castration of men is a procedure for removing the testicles, helping to stop the development and maturation of sperm. The corresponding result of such an operation for men is the impossibility of fertilization.
Indications for castration are usually due to all sorts of pathologies that pose a life-threatening threat to a man. A fairly popular cause in such situations is prostate cancer.
- Complete castration is a forced measure in which removal of only both testicles is the optimal solution.
- Partial castration is performed when only the removal of one testicle is sufficient to improve the patient’s health.
The removal of male testicles is also carried out during sex reassignment surgery from a man to a woman, but that is a completely different story.
Radiation castration without removing the testicles in men is used for prostate cancer. Castration by irradiation affects the male gonads, completely stopping the functioning of the testicles.
Chemical castration of men
During the process of chemical castration, a specific component is introduced into the body - exogenous testosterone, which inhibits the performance of male sex hormones and stops the production of seminal fluid. To achieve maximum effect, the drugs must be used systematically. This method of castrating men has a temporary effect.
Chemical castration of a person is used as a measure of suppression of pedophiles in those countries where such a law is in force.
This method of castration has many unexplored side effects. Drugs for chemical castration of men contribute to obesity, decreased bone density, the development of diabetes mellitus and gynecomastia.
Surgical castration
Castration of a man is carried out by surgical intervention, during which the spermatic cord is compressed and truncated. Surgical castration in men is a standard operation in medical practice. In the majority of patients it proceeds without any unforeseen difficulties.
At what age surgical castration is performed is practically irrelevant. Partial castration in boys, which involves removing only one testicle, prevents the desired threat to male health and does not interfere with the preservation of sexual function.
The advantages of surgical castration compared to its other types are:
- relatively quick recovery after surgery;
- almost complete elimination of the risk of complications;
- positive effect on the life expectancy of the operated patient.
Complications after orchiectomy– decreased libido, loss of fertilization, excess weight gain, mental instability.
Genital surgery practices similar operations, which people, due to their ignorance, generalize with castration:
– vasectomy – male sterilization, which involves ligation of the vas deferens, without affecting hormonal levels;
– penectomy is a complete amputation of the penis, or removal of a certain part of the penis.
Medical indications for castration
Surgical intervention is prescribed for compelling medical reasons, and only when amputation of the testicles is necessary for the patient to survive.
Reasons for castration in men to save lives:
- Testicular prolapse and other abnormalities of the genital organs of men and boys, leading to the risk of hormonal imbalance or the appearance of tumors in the body;
- A sharp increase in testosterone levels, uncontrollable by other means;
- Torsion of the spermatic cord of the testicle, leading to tissue death;
- Malignant neoplasms of the prostate gland;
- Atrophy of the genital organs as a result of varicose veins;
- Tuberculous orchitis;
- Severe mechanical damage to the testicle without the possibility of restoring natural functioning;
- Malignant neoplasm of the testicle.
Contraindications to castration
Castration is not performed if the patient has infectious diseases. The operation is also rejected for pathologies of internal organs:
- liver;
- lungs;
– kidneys;
- heart.
Castration of a young guy provides the right for further freezing and storage in order to have the possibility of fatherhood in the future.
How does castration occur in men?
Before surgical castration, the patient must undergo a number of necessary clinical and laboratory tests (urine, blood, ECG, FLO). Surgery to remove a testicle with a tumor is prescribed only after the results of tumor puncture are obtained.
Ten hours before surgery, the patient should not take food or liquid. Castration surgery requires the use of general or local anesthesia.
Castration of men in stages:
- Shave hair in the groin area;
- The penis is attached to the stomach with an elastic bandage;
- The surgical field is anesthetized with a special drug, anesthesia is injected into the scrotal suture;
- An incision is made in the scrotum to remove the testicle with the spermatic cord;
- The cord is bandaged;
- After the testicle is removed, the ligated cord is placed back into the incision;
- The incision is sutured.
Different ways to castrate men:
- Removal of testicles without removal of epididymis;
- Removal of the epididymis and testicle;
- Removal of the testicle and testicular tissue of the spermatic cord.
The visual consequences of orchiectomy in men are corrected with prosthetics to give the scrotum its original appearance.
The recovery period after castration allows a man to go about his daily activities a day later. For about a month after the operation, it is necessary to limit physical activity and avoid prolonged contact of the suture with water. It is necessary to abstain from sex until the stitch is completely healed.
Recovery after orchiectomy
The recovery period after castration of the testicles in most cases proceeds quite favorably. The occurrence of complications is unlikely, but the possibility of their occurrence must still be taken into account.
During the first week after castration, the person operated on is likely to experience chills and pain in the groin area. Which is quite common in the postoperative period.
Consequences after removal of the testicles can be expressed in the form of suppuration of the surgical suture, bleeding, and resumption of tumor growth.
After an orchiectomy, applying an ice pack to the area of swelling may be helpful.
The postoperative wound is treated with an antiseptic until complete healing. Healing occurs in 1-2 weeks.
Post-castration syndrome in men
A man’s life after castration can be complicated by his mental well-being. The state of depression may be due to the unreality of paternity status, a noticeable decrease in sexual activity, or the defective appearance of the scrotum. To stabilize your psycho-emotional state, you will need to visit a psychotherapist.
Consequences after orchiectomy
The most common possible consequences of male castration with bilateral intervention:
- Impotence is the inevitable development of erectile dysfunction when both testicles are removed;
- Risk of osteoporosis and diabetes;
- Sexual desire disappears in direct proportion to the increase in testosterone deficiency;
- Depression;
- Hormonal imbalance contributes to female obesity, disruptions in the endocrine system, and the occurrence of gynecomastia;
- Constant fatigue;
- Loss of sensation in the genital organs.
Removing one testicle in men does not have such dire consequences. One testicle fully copes with the necessary functions of the reproductive system - the threat of infertility and hormonal imbalance is excluded.
Orchiectomy is mainly performed for prostate cancer. The success of a man’s recovery is determined by the stage of development of the pathological process at the time of castration. The life expectancy of a man after castration of the testicles depends on the presence of cancer cells in the body. If there are no metastases, then the operation was successful and the man can count on many years of life.
But three-quarters of castrated men experience recurrence of prostate cancer due to the high prevalence of cancer cells throughout the body at the time of surgery.
Treatment after orchiectomy: postoperative period
A castrated man must take medications to combat heart palpitations and hormonal imbalances.
Obvious endocrine disorders in men are treated with the help of strong hormonal drugs “Testobromlecit” and “Testenate”.
Treatment after castration of men prescribes the use of antibiotics to prevent the occurrence of inflammatory processes.
Surgery to remove a man's testicles is a necessary life-saving measure.
The operation to remove the testicles in men is called orchiectomy, or castration if both testicles are removed. Testicular removal is resorted to in several cases:
- Malignant tumor in the testicles or prostate.
- Twisting of the spermatic cord, in which blood cannot enter the organ, leading to tissue necrosis.
- A significant deviation of testosterone from the norm, which cannot be reduced without the use of orchiectomy.
- A testicle that did not descend at an early age. This pathology can threaten in the future with cancer and serious hormonal imbalances.
- Trauma to the testicle that makes it impossible to preserve the testicles.
- The patient's desire to change gender.
Removing the testicles in men is a serious operation that has significant side effects, but despite this, in some cases it can save a person’s life.
Male castration: types and consequences of castration in men
Male castration usually refers to the removal of both testicles. There are several main types of castration, among which are the direct removal of one or two male testicles through surgery or chemical castration, which does not involve surgery.
What is chemical castration?
Chemical male castration involves taking drugs that inhibit sexual function and make it impossible to have sexual intercourse. The practice of using chemical castration in the vast majority of cases is associated with forced punishment for persons who have committed rape, including minors who have not reached puberty. Simply put, chemical castration is used in most cases as a punishment and preventive measure for pedophiles.
Male castration in the form of orchiectomy is a full-fledged surgical intervention and therefore it is important to know how to prepare for it and what consequences may arise after the operation.
But even persons who have not committed such crimes can be subjected to chemical castration, for example, when the patient simply cannot psychologically come to terms with surgical intervention, then this form of castration is used to reduce testosterone.
Male sterilization, which is called a vasectomy, is also actively used.
Male castration is a fairly simple operation and rarely causes serious complications.
Before the operation begins, it is necessary to prepare for it: the patient must take a blood test and a urine sample, the results of these tests will help the anesthesiologist assess his overall health.
A patient undergoing male castration must follow a diet: you cannot eat or drink for 8 hours before the operation, and if necessary, do an enema and use a laxative.
The operation includes several stages:
- The groin area is cleared of hair.
- The penis is “strengthened” on the abdomen using an elastic bandage.
- An anesthetic is injected into the groin area, and an anesthetic is injected into the scrotal suture.
- The scrotal suture is cut and through it the testicle and spermatic cord are removed, which are compressed and truncated.
- The stump of the cord is inserted into the scrotum.
- A suture is applied.
Male castration does not take very long and can be carried out either using local anesthesia, when the patient is conscious, or under general anesthesia - it all depends on the choice of the patient. The very next day, the patient can begin work duties, but at the same time, one should not be too active in everyday activities and physical exertion should be avoided.
In addition to excluding physical activity for a while, you should not take baths or have sexual intercourse. Apply an ice compress to your groin for several days and leave the bandage on for 2 weeks.
The consequences of castration in men can be varied and depend on the general state of psychological, hormonal and physical health.
Some of the most common consequences of orchiectomy include:
- Impotence, which is inevitable when two testicles are removed at once.
- Over time, sex drive will decrease because the body will not produce the proper level of testosterone, but this deficiency can be corrected with the help of hormonal medications.
- Depression, fatigue, mood swings. Such consequences of castration of men are understandable, since a person may no longer feel like a “full-fledged” man. The main thing in the period after surgery is the support of loved ones and especially the spouse.
- Weight gain and breast enlargement.
- Male castration can lead to sweating, hot flashes, that is, symptoms characteristic of menopause in women.
- Diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, and general negative effects on calcium metabolism may occur.
- The most negative consequence for patients with testicular and prostate cancer is the likelihood that tumor formations can adapt to hormone therapy, that is, they will continue to grow.
Remember, no matter what complications there are, if the doctor believes that castration will help you recover and live many more happy years, then you should listen to the advice of a specialist and not fall into despair.
