An 'Inguinal Orchidectomy' is the removal of a testicle through an incision in the area of the groin. This area is otherwise known as the inguinal region.

WHY IS AN INGUINAL ORCHIDECTOMY NEEDED?

There are a number of reasons why an 'Inguinal Orchidectomy' may be needed, some of these are:

• If a testicle remains undescended from childhood and it can not be brought down into the scrotum surgically, it must be removed. This is because there is a risk of developing cancer in the undescended testicle.
   
• If a testis is atrophic, which means it has wasted away due to lack of blood, nourishment or nerve supply, it needs to be removed otherwise it can cause pain and infection in the future.
   
• If cancer of the testis is suspected, the testis containing the tumour needs to be removed. This is so that the tumour can be studied under a microscope to see what cells it is made up of. Depending on the outcome of these results, appropriate treatment can be given as soon as possible, if this is necessary.

In the first two cases, when an inguinal orchidectomy is performed to remove one testicle, your fertility should not be affected and may in fact improve. This is because the remaining healthy testicle will continue to function in the normal manner to maintain fertility and produce male hormones such as testosterone.

When cancer of the testicle is present, fertility may be effected, not by surgery itself but by the follow-on treatment that may be required. If fertility is likely to be effected then sperm banking is advised and arranged for younger men.