Castration
Castration, gelding, orchiectomy or orchidectomy is any action, surgical or otherwise, by which a male loses the use of his testes. This prevents him from reproducing and from producing certain hormones such as testosterone. It should not be confused with penectomy, which is the whole or partial removal of the penis.
The term "castration" is sometimes also used to refer to the removal of the ovaries in the female, otherwise known as an oophorectomy.
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Castration in humans has been proposed, and sometimes used, as a method of birth control in certain poorer regions. It was, and is, frequently used in certain cultures such as in India or Africa, for religious or social reasons. People who receive this treatment are often admitted to special social classes (see: eunuch).
When women were not allowed to sing in public, castration was sometimes used on young boys to prevent the breaking of their voice (caused mainly by testosterone) and to let them develop a special high voice (see castrato).
A temporary chemical castration has been studied and developed as a preventive measure and punishment for several, mainly sexual, repeated crimes such as rape or other sexually related violence. Chemical or surgical castration is being discussed in many countries in particular as a voluntary surgical measure; an option for child molesterss to avoid (long term) imprisonments. In the case of chemical castration, regular injections of anti-androgens would probably be required.
Surgical removal of a testicle is done in the case of testicular cancer. Surgical removal of both testicles or chemical castration may be carried out in the case of prostate cancer, as hormone treatment to slow down the cancer.
There is also much documented evidence that voluntary castration is fairly common in modern societies for reasons such as transgender, control of libido, and body modification. Since voluntary castration is not generally supported by the medical community, an extensive underground network of castrators (also called "cutters") without medical licenses has formed, in part aided by the Internet. Alternatively, self-castration (or autocastration) is a common occurance to the extent that most urologists encounter many such patients during their career.
Castration is common in zoology, where it is intended for favouring a given desired development of the animal or of its habits. Usually domestic pets are subject to castration in order to avoid sexual frustration or sexual contacts and consequent reproduction. In the food industry, cattle are often castrated in order to increase their weight (with the advantage of relevant scale economies for the breeder).
Certain animals, like horses and swine, are usually treated with a scrotal castration (which can be done with the animal standing), while others, like dogs and cats, with a pre-scrotal castration (with the animal recumbent).
Methods of veterinary castration include surgical removal, the use of an elastrator tool to secure a band around the testicles that disrupts the blood supply, the use of a burdizzo tool to crush the spermatic cords and disrupt the blood supply, pharmalogical injections and implants and immunological techniques to innoculate the animal against its own sexual hormones.Castration In Humans
Castration In Veterinary Practice
