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Castration |
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castration, removal of the sex glands of an animal, i.e., testes in the male, or ovaries and often the uterus in the female. Castration of the female animal is commonly referred to as spaying. Castration results in sterility, decreased sexual desire, and inhibition of secondary sex characteristics. It is performed for the purpose of improving the quality of meat and decreasing the aggressiveness of farm animals; in pet animals it prevents unwanted mating behavior, reproduction, and wandering. Removal of the sex glands in humans is sometimes necessary to prevent the spread of certain hormone-dependent cancers cancer, in medicine, common term for neoplasms, or tumors, that are malignant. Like benign tumors, malignant tumors do not respond to body mechanisms that limit cell growth. ..... Click the link for more information. . Castration as a punishment or deterrent for repeat sexual offenders is a topic debated both because of questions regarding its efficacy and because of questions regarding the relative rights of offenders and their victims or potential victims. castrationor neuteringRemoval of the testes. The procedure stops most production of the hormone testosterone. If done before puberty, it prevents the development of functioning adult sex organs. Castration after sexual maturity makes the sex organs shrink and stop functioning, ending sperm formation and sexual interest and behaviour. Livestock and pets are castrated to keep them from reproducing (see sterilization) or to create a more docile animal. In humans, castration has been used for both cultural (see eunuch, castrato) and medical (e.g., for testicular cancer) reasons. Castration Abélard, Peter castrated by irate father of lover, Héloise. [Fr. Lit.: Héloise and Abélard] castrated journalist whom Brett Ashley loves. [Am. Lit.: The Sun Also Rises] hermaphroditic goddess honored orgiastically, usually by emasculation. [Phrygian Myth.: Parrinder, 68] |
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| I remember a very disturbing experience when I was a student nurse in the operating theatres, being quizzed over the relevance of a degree in nursing while the surgeon was doing a bilateral subcapsular orchidectomy for prostate cancer, which involves scraping out the contents of the testicles. They also noted that it was difficult to know whether this represented feelings following orchidectomy, or feelings of anticipation about orchidectomy, which would then influence the help-seeking process. |
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