Radiation castration

With radiation castration (also known as X-ray castration or radiation sterilization ), the function of the gonads ( ovaries or testes ) is destroyed by means of ionizing radiation , which leads to infertility . The high - energy X - ray or gamma radiation used can cause irreparable damage to the DNA , especially in rapidly dividing cells such as the germ cells . The local application of such radiation in the area of ​​the gonads therefore easily leads to the loss of reproductive capacity ( impotentia generandi ). This can rarely be the case as a side effect of therapeutic radiation in the context of cancer treatment or if the prescribed safety measures are not observed in the context of X-ray examinations.

Radiation castration is mostly replaced in therapy by operative castration or drug-based hormone blockade. Occasionally it is still used in women with hormone-dependent breast cancer.

During the times of National Socialism , human experiments on radiation castration were carried out in concentration camps under the direction of Viktor Brack .

literature

• Stephan Dressler and Christoph Zink: Pschyrembel, Dictionary Sexuality. Walter de Gruyter Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3-11-016965-7 , p. 523

swell

1. ^ V. Brack: Castration by X-rays. of March 28, 1941

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !