Testicular surgery is used for the treatment of structural conditions affecting thetesticles(also called testes).
Issues such as misshapen testes, epididymis cancer, ortesticular cancerare usually corrected surgically.
A variety of surgical interventions can be used to repair and remove abnormalities involving the testicles.
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What Is Testicular Surgery?
Usually, testicular surgery is a relatively short procedure that involves only one testicle.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
A small incision in or near thescrotum, the sac that holds the testicles, is required.
In some circumstances, anorchiectomy(complete removal of a testicle) may be necessary.
Typically, aurologista surgeon specialized in surgery of the urinary and male reproductive systemswould perform the operation.
You will likely havegeneral anesthesiafor pain control during your testicular surgery.
Contraindications
Testicular surgery is not considered an option if your issue can be corrected without surgical intervention.
Potential Risks
There are general risks after surgery andanesthesia.
Testicular surgery also poses a risk of some specific surgical complications.
Scarring may develop months or years after surgery, and infertility might not be apparent until years later.
Purpose of Testicular Surgery
There are several different reasons why you might have testicular surgery.
Removing cancer, correcting a deformity, or repairing traumatic damage are the most common ones.
Some conditions, such as an infection, can often be managed with medication alone.
Others, like cysts, might never need any intervention at all.
See your healthcare provider if you have a lump, pain, or swelling in or near your scrotum.
You will also need to have preoperative testing including acomplete blood count (CBC)andblood chemistry tests.
A chest X-ray andelectrocardiogram (EKG)will be done as part of your pre-anesthesia evaluation.
Most of the time, testicular surgery is an outpatient procedure.
What to Wear
you’re free to wear whatever you want to your surgery appointment.
Be sure your surgeon is aware of any and all medications and supplements that you take.
Pre-Op Lifestyle Changes
You will not need to make lifestyle changes before your surgery.
If you have an infection, you may need to abstain from sexual activity while it is being treated.
You will then go to a pre-operative surgical area and change into a surgical gown.
Your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and oxygen saturation level will be checked.
Your skin will be cleansed with a surgical cleaning solution.
At this point, your surgeon will insert the laparoscope if you are having minimally invasive surgery.
Then, either directly or with the laparoscope, the surgical location will be located.
The next steps can include one or more of the following:
Throughout the procedure, bleeding is controlled.
Your wound will be covered with surgical dressing.
Your anesthesia will be stopped and your breathing tube will be removed.
After the Surgery
You will begin to wake up in the hours after your surgery.
You will be monitored for complications and receive pain medication as needed.
You should be able to eat and drink normally.
Your surgeon may check on you a few hours after your surgery.
Before you are discharged, you will receive instructions regarding wound care, follow-up evaluations, and more.
You will also have to modify your activity in the days and weeks ahead.
You will need to use any medications, such as antibiotics, as directed.
And you may be instructed to use over-the-counter pain or prescription medication for pain control during your recovery.
Never place ice packs directly on your wound or surgical dressing.
Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions regarding physical activities.
However, if you have testicular cancer, you will likely need additional treatment, such as chemotherapy.
Possible Future Surgeries
Generally, testicular surgery is a single operation without the need for additional procedures.
Sometimes surgery for undescended testes might involve several surgeries.
This sequential plan would be determined in advance of the first surgery.
And extensive disease (such as metastatic cancer), may involve additional surgeries in the future.
Sometimes issues like benign cysts may be recurrent.
Typically, structural issues that involve the testicles can be repaired with a simple treatment.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
American Urological Association.Evaluation and treatment of cryptorchidism.
American Cancer Society.Surgery for testicular cancer.
2017;10(1):1-14. doi:10.1159/000447145
American Pediatric Surgical Association.Testicular torsion.
American Pediatric Surgical Association.Undescended testes.
Centers for Disease Control.Epididymitis.
Updated June 4, 2015.
- doi:10.1155/2016/9539378
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Rare disease database: testicular cancer.2019.
2019 Jun 11;19(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s12894-019-0477-1.
PMID: 31185974; PMCID: PMC6561757.
