Penectomy: Difference between revisions

Disambiguation: penectomy only refers to the removal of the penis. When the testicles as well as the penis are removed, this is called [[emasculation]]. Emasculation is a form of [[genital nullification]]. Removal of just the testicles is called [[orchiectomy]] or "orchi" for short. Historically, removal of the testicles was called castration.<ref name="mtfsNBsurg">{{Cite web |title=Non-Binary Options For Bottom Surgery |author= |work=MTFsurgery.net |date=8 April 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |url= https://www.mtfsurgery.net/non-binary-surgery.htm}}</ref> This page should focus only on the removal of the penis.

Cancer sometimes necessitates removal of part or all of the penis.<ref name="pmid17896151">{{Cite journal |last1=Korets |first1=Ruslan |last2=Koppie |first2=Theresa M. |last3=Snyder |first3=Mark E. |last4=Russo |first4=Paul |title=Partial Penectomy for Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Experience |journal=Annals of Surgical Oncology |volume=14 |issue=12 |pages=3614–3619 |year=2007 |pmid=17896151 |issn=1068-9265 |doi=10.1245/s10434-007-9563-9}}</ref> The amount of penis removed depends on the severity of the cancer. Some men have only the tip of their penis removed. For others with more advanced cancer, the entire penis must be removed.<ref name="menshealth">{{Cite web |last=Kennard |first=Jerry |title=Penectomy: Partial and Total Removal of the Penis |publisher=About.com |date=2006-07-22 |url=http://menshealth.about.com/od/cancer/a/Penectomy.htm |accessdate=2011-09-25}}</ref>

Because of the rarity of cancers which require the partial or total removal of the penis, support from people who have had the penis removed can be difficult to find locally. Website support networks are available.<ref name="menshealth" /> For instance, the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivors Network website provides information for finding support networks.<ref name="acs-csn">{{Cite web| title=Cancer Survivors Network |publisher=American Cancer Society |url=http://csn.cancer.org/ |accessdate=2011-09-25}}</ref> Surgery to create a penis (called [[phalloplasty]]) is also an option for reconstruction of a penis after penectomy.

Patients that have undergone a partial penectomy as a result of a penile cancer diagnosis have reported similar sexual outcomes as prior to surgery.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sansalone|first=Salvatore|last2=Silvani|first2=Mauro|last3=Leonardi|first3=Rosario|last4=Vespasiani|first4=Giuseppe|last5=Iacovelli|first5=Valerio|date=2015|title=Sexual outcomes after partial penectomy for penile cancer: results from a multiinstitutional study|url=http://www.ajandrology.com/preprintarticle.asp?id=168690|journal=Asian Journal of Andrology|language=en|volume=0|issue=0|pages=0|doi=10.4103/1008-682X.168690|issn=1008-682X|pmc=5227676|pmid=26643562}}</ref> Sexual support therapists and specialists are available nationally in the United States and can be accessed through the specialist cancer services.<ref name="menshealth" /> Many surgeons or hospitals will also provide this information post operatively. Local government health services departments may be able to provide advice, names, and contact numbers.