Orchiectomy (or-kee-EK-toh-mee) is surgery to remove 1 or both of your testicles.  

We often recommend a  radical orchiectomy. This surgery removes the tumor, a testicle, and spermatic cord. 

A radical orchiectomy is an outpatient procedure. You go home the same day and do not stay in the hospital. It will take a few days to recover, but you must avoid heavy lifting for about 4 to 6 weeks.  

Surgery may be the only treatment you need for early-stage germ cell tumors that have not spread beyond the testicle. After surgery, you will have long-term surveillance (monitoring) for years. 

This surgery should not affect your fertility, or being able to get and keep an erection. 

MSK offers the option give you a prosthetic (artificial) testicle during surgery. You can choose this option if you want to change how the testicle looks.