Do you still get ab erection if your testicals are removed

1. How an erection happens — more than just testes

An erection is a vascular and neurologic event driven by blood flow, nerves, and sexual stimulation, and although testosterone produced by the testicles supports libido and erectile physiology, the mechanical ability to have an erection depends on intact circulation and nerve function as much as on hormones (MD Anderson; ^[3]1). Medical summaries underline that testosterone contributes to desire and erectile function but is not the sole determinant of penile tumescence, which explains why erections can persist in some men even after testosterone falls ^{[6] [5]}.

2. One testicle removed: function usually preserved

When only one testicle is removed, the contralateral testicle most often compensates by producing sufficient testosterone and sperm so that erectile function and fertility remain largely intact; clinical guidance and survivorship resources report that unilateral orchiectomy typically does not change ability to get an erection (ISSM; ^[1]; ^[3]4). Several patient-oriented sources and clinical reviews note that the remaining testicle may even increase output to maintain normal hormone levels, and only a minority require later testosterone replacement ^{[1] [7]}.

3. Both testicles removed: testosterone falls, risk of ED rises but erections are still possible

A bilateral orchiectomy sharply reduces endogenous testosterone and therefore commonly lowers libido and increases the risk of erectile dysfunction, as described by urology societies and cancer survivorship organizations (SMSNA; ^[3]; p1_s6). However, clinical resources and patient accounts emphasize that bilateral orchiectomy does not categorically eliminate erections — some men still experience spontaneous erections due to residual hormones, neural and vascular mechanisms, or psychological arousal, and many regain function with treatment (Hims; ^[9]; MD Anderson; ^[3]1).

4. Treatments restore or support erections after orchiectomy

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a principal option to restore libido and improve erectile function after bilateral orchiectomy, and erectile dysfunction treatments used in other settings — oral PDE5 inhibitors, vacuum devices, injections, and prosthetic implants — are applicable when hormone therapy alone is insufficient (Testicular Cancer Foundation; ^[5]; ^[3]1). Clinical guidance and survivorship sites stress that ED after orchiectomy is treatable and that a combination of hormone therapy, medications, devices, and counseling offers high rates of sexual recovery ^{[5] [6]}.

5. Psychological, treatment-related, and individual factors matter

Erectile problems after testicle removal may be driven or amplified by psychological distress, body-image concerns, surgery-related nerve or vascular injury, or adjunct cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, meaning outcomes vary widely between individuals and over time (Movember/Nuts & Bolts; ^[7]; OncoLink; ^[3]3). Studies of cancer survivors report mixed rates of ED and emphasize that some sexual dysfunction is transient and modifiable with counseling, medical therapy, or prostheses, and that patient experience and recovery timelines differ ^{[7] [8]}.

6. Bottom line and limits of available reporting

In sum: losing one testicle usually does not stop erections because the remaining testicle generally maintains testosterone production ^{[1] [2]}; losing both greatly reduces testosterone and raises the likelihood of erectile dysfunction but does not make erections impossible, and most men have treatment options ranging from testosterone replacement to devices and surgery ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}. The provided sources give consistent clinical guidance but do not quantify exact probabilities of preserved erection for every patient subgroup; individualized assessment by a clinician is necessary to predict outcomes and plan therapies ^{[3] [6]}.