Does having one testicle affect testosterone?| Iranian Surgery

Does having one testicle affect testosterone?

Having a unilateral orchidectomy (one testicle removed) should not affect the overall circulating testosterone level in the body, providing the remaining testicle is healthy and can produce enough testosterone to make up for any deficit. In some men, low testosterone may be serious and they may experience more severe symptoms, especially the longer their testosterone levels remain low. Having a unilateral orchidectomy (one testicle removed) should not affect the overall circulating testosterone level in the body, providing the remaining testicle is healthy and can produce enough testosterone to make up for any deficit.

However, in some men such as those who have had, or are having chemotherapy, testosterone production in the remaining testicle may be affected. This is usually not permanent but it may take quite a while after treatment for testosterone levels to recover. Alternatively, in men who have had a bilateral orchidectomy, the testosterone level will fall to a minimal level and in this situation men will need to start testosterone replacement therapy. After bilateral orchidectomy, the body will not be able to produce sperm and only very low levels of testosterone will be made from the adrenal glands.

How will I know if my testosterone is low?

If testosterone levels fall men may feel tired, low in mood and can develop hot flushes. Weight gain and a loss of muscle strength can also occur. These ‘symptoms’ can often be quite vague and difficult to recognise.

Much more specifically, if the testosterone levels are much lower than normal, men usually notice a loss of or difficulty in achieving normal erections on waking up in the morning, a fall in sex drive (loss of libido)and difficulty in maintaining erections strong enough for masturbation or sexual intercourse. If testosterone levels are low for a prolonged time, breast swelling (gynaecomastia), thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How else could I be affected by my treatment?

Because treatment for testicular cancer is intense and occurs in a fairly short space of time, men not only have to recover from the physical and mental strain of their illness but may find themselves struggling with the symptoms of low testosterone as well. Although low mood and sometimes depression can occur after testicular cancer treatment, men should consider asking their specialist team or GP to check them for possible testosterone deficiency. A simple way of identifying potentially low testosterone levels is to have a blood test performed which can measure the level of testosterone that the body is producing.

The blood test to measure testosterone levels

It is important that this particular blood test is performed in the morning. Testosterone levels are at their highest early in the morning, and this is when the blood test can be performed accurately. The results should only take a few days to be fully processed in most areas.

What is the normal level?

A normal level of testosterone is usually considered to be between approximately 9 – 30 nmol/L (nanomoles per litre). A level below 8 nmol/L is considered to be low and the blood test should be repeated. If it is low on 2 occasions taken at the right time of the day, then men will usually benefit from starting testosterone replacement therapy. Borderline levels are between 9 – 12 nmol/L and will often be monitored however treatment is not usually started in this range as it does not make a difference to how most people feel. However if men are displaying symptoms of low testosterone with a borderline level a trial for 6- months can be commenced to see if it helps resolve the symptoms.

If a man is worried that they may have a low testosterone level, they should speak to their consultant and specialist team who can arrange for men to be assessed for this problem and see a hormone specialist (endocrinologist).

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Does having 1 testicle affect testosterone?

When one testicle is removed, there is usually no effect on a man’s sexual function. Most of the time, the remaining testicle produces enough testosterone and sperm to compensate for the testicle that has been removed. … In this case, his body cannot produce testosterone.

What are the side effects of having one testicle?

You will have some soreness and bruising for a couple of weeks after your operation. There are no lasting side effects after you have one testicle removed. Having one testicle removed won’t affect your ability to get an erection. For most men it won’t affect their ability to have children

What happens if a dead testicle is not removed?

Damage to or death of the testicle. When testicular torsion is not treated for several hours, blocked blood flow can cause permanent damage to the testicle. If the testicle is badly damaged, it has to be surgically removed

Why is the left testicle more important?

The left testicle is bigger than the right one; therefore, the left vein is longer than the right. Because the left vein is longer, it is subject to more difficulties when draining. … This causes the blood to gather, leading to dilated (expanded) veins in the scrotum

What happens if a man has only one testicle?

Can I still have children? Yes, in most cases, people with one testicle can get someone pregnant. Remember, one testicle can provide enough testosterone for you to get an erection and ejaculate. This is also enough to produce adequate sperm for fertilization

Can a man live without testes?

Men without testicles might live longer, study suggests. Want to live to 100? A new study suggests that, for men, your testicles might be holding you back

Can man with one testicle have child?

Men with one undescended testicle can still have children, but their fertility is lower than normal by roughly half. If they have surgery to correct it, especially when younger, their fertility is about the same as if they never had a problem

Does a dead testicle need to be removed?

A testicular torsion must be treated with surgery, although an emergency room doctor may try to manually untwist the cord. … Surgery will still be performed to remove the dead testicle and suture the other testicle so it does not become twisted later in life.

Which testicle carries the sperm?

The epididymis is the tube which moves the sperm from the testicles. Vas deferens. This is a tube in which the sperm is stored and it carries the sperm out of the scrotal sac.

What testicle produces more sperm?

Epididymis — The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that rests on the backside of each testicle. It functions in the carrying and storage of the sperm cells that are produced in the testes.

Does having one testicle affect testosterone