ED Medical

The testicle is part of the male reproductive system which is located inside the scrotum. Testosterone which is the male sex hormone and sperm are produced in the testicles. In case of disorder or injury to the testicles can cause severe complications like infertility, Erectile dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance. The disorder of the testicles can be due to testicular rupture, testicular cancer, or testicular trauma. In all these cases men might be suggested to go for Testicle Implantation.

What is Testicular implantation?

Testicular implantation is a process of restoring the testicles which are surgically removed or absent due to birth effect or by any disorder. It is a short operation performed under general anesthetic. The implant can be of silicone testicle which gives the same size and shape as a normal testicle. Only Saline-filled implants are FDA approved in the USA.

Losing one or both the testicles in men can result in psychological and emotional effects. It can be hard on self and the effects can range from feeling less masculine to worrying about how his sexual partner would react.

The insertion of a testicular implant (artificial testicle usually made of silicone or balloon filled with special liquid) can help reduce or eliminate these problems. These implants will boost self-confidence in men who lost testicles.

When do men need a Testicular implantation?

Testicular implantation is needed in men who have one or both the testicles missing or removed for a variety of reasons such as testicular cancer, physical injury, or undescended testes. As this affects the confidence and self-esteem of the person a testicular implant can give the scrotum a normal appearance and can boost self-confidence.

According to a study conducted by professor Bodiwala and professor Summerton, it has been proven that Testicular implants have been shown to reduce the psychological impact resulting from loss or absence of one or both testicles in men.

How is a Testicular implant placed?

Before the process is started light intravenous anesthesia is given to the patient to numb the area and for his comfort. The implants are placed during an outpatient procedure that takes about 30-60 minutes. The recovery from the whole process can take up to 24-48 hours.

The implant is placed through a small incision in the scrotum. Usually, doctors would prefer a muscle-sparing upper scrotal incision that can be hidden in the natural scrotal folds and allow for an entry site that is distant from the final resting position of the implant in the scrotum. The surgeon would create a small pouch in the scrotum in which the implant rests and closes the incisions with small adsorbable sutures. The sutures are to be removed after 7-10 days post-surgery.

The implants are either made of a silicone shell filled with saltwater or made of soft-solid silicone. The implants can restore the touch, look, and feel of the natural testicles but cannot produce sperm in them or testosterone.

The testicular implants are not considered lifetime devices just like other medical implants. The implants may need to be replaced or adjusted at some point in time. The average lifespan of an implant is around 10-20 years.

Cost of Testicular implantation

The cost of each testicular implant itself will cost around $2000-$3000 in the US and the overall cost including the hospital charges, anesthesia, and the doctor’s fee will cost anything around $5000-$6000 depending on the luxury of the hospital.

Side effects of Testicular implantation

Testicular implantation comes up with a range of side effects or complication which includes

• Infection at the incision area on the scrotum.
• Leaking or rupture of the implants inside the scrotum.
• Shifting of the implants out of the position.
• The pooling of blood in the scrotum(Hematoma).
• The implants can stick out, swell, bleed inside the scrotum.
• The saline-filled implants are usually harder and less malleable than the natural testicles.

Conclusion

Overall the testicular implantation is an effective method to counter the psychological issues in men with no testicles as they boost self-confidence and self-esteem. Among the implants, the Saline-filled testis implants appear safe and well-tolerated according to a study conducted.

The majority of the patients who underwent testicular implantation are not facing any problems as such and complete healing from the procedure would take around 10-12 days.