[Testicular implants, patient's and partner's satisfaction: a questionnaire-based study of men after orchidectomy]

To assess the satisfaction of men and of their partner towards their testicular implants after undergoing orchidectomy.

Hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients, who had undergone orchidectomy, and their partner were sent an anonymous questionnaire. The follow-up after the implantation was at least one year. The testicular implants used were all Perthèse.

Seventy-two patients answered to the questionnaire, among whom 63 had a testicular implant. Fifty-eight partners answered. From the patients with implant, 5% thought their body image was worse than before the operation and 80% thought their sexual activity was unchanged. Ninety-six percent thought the implantation was worthwhile and would do it again if they had to do the choice again. The reasons for dissatisfaction were: for the shape (n=8), for the size (n=3), for the position (n=2) and one patient thought the implant was too cold. Forty percent of the partners did not care about the implants and 58% thought the implant was essential. The dissatisfaction rate for the partners was 26% and reasons for were: for the shape (n=5), for the size (n=2), and one partner thought the implant was too cold. From the patients without implant, only one is thinking about having one.

Testicular implants are well accepted, but some reasons of dissatisfaction appeared in our study. It was the first evaluation of the partner's satisfaction.