The influence of bilateral orchiectomy on self-concept: a pilot study

This pilot study was designed to explore self-concept alterations in a group of patients undergoing bilateral orchiectomy for treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale was used to measure pre- and postoperative self-concept group scores. Also, the group of orchiectomy patients was compared to a group of patients undergoing a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for cancer and another group undergoing a TURP for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The results provide no evidence to suggest that surgical removal of both testicles in a group of males has a significant effect on self-concept or its indices when compared to a group of men who underwent a TURP, where both groups also were diagnosed with cancer. For the group of males who underwent bilateral orchiectomy, no significant differences were detected between the pre- and postoperative total self-concept scores. However, statistically significant differences did exist between the group's pre- and postoperative physical self scores and identity scores.