What condition is characterized by the surgical removal of the testes in males?

The condition characterized by the surgical removal of the testes in males is referred to as orchidectomy. This surgical procedure is typically performed for various medical reasons, including the treatment of testicular cancer, severe trauma, or other testicular diseases. The term "orchidectomy" specifically denotes the surgical act of removing one or both testes.

While "castration" also pertains to the removal of the testes and can be used interchangeably with orchidectomy in some contexts, it is often a broader term that may not specifically imply surgical intervention. It could refer to any process that leads to the loss of testicular function.

Other options, such as impotence and phimosis, refer to different conditions entirely: impotence involves the inability to achieve or maintain an erection, and phimosis is the condition where the foreskin cannot be retracted over the glans of the penis. Therefore, orchidectomy is the most accurate and specific term regarding the surgical removal of the testes.