An operation to remove one or both testes. In adults such an operation is often performed in cases of cancer of the testicles; but in infants or young boys, orchioectomy may be done to remove a testicle that has failed to develop normally or in cases of irreparable damage due to torsion of the testis. Removal of one testicle does not affect the other one or the male’s ability later to have children and have a normal sex life.