desex

Spay or castrate

To desex an animal is to remove its reproductive organs—to spay or neuter it.

The term is common in veterinary and shelter contexts: All adopted pets must be desexed.

More broadly, desex can mean to remove sexual characteristics or associations from something: The publisher desexed the novel for younger readers.

castration

neutering

Surgical sterilization of animals

spayingSurgical sterilization of females
orchiectomySurgical testicle extraction
ovariectomyExcision of egg-producing organs

gelding · emasculation · gonadectomy · orchidectomy · geld · caponize · altering · fixing · sterilization · eunuch

petcare

shelter

Protected place or structure

adoptionLegal family formation
overpopulationUnsustainable density of inhabitants
population controlPolicies limiting demographic growth

humane society · feral cat · rescue · microchipping · low-cost clinic · animal welfare

veterinary

clinic

Outpatient treatment facility

veterinarianDoctor for animals
surgeryInvasive medical procedure
anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling

incision · sutures · scalpel · recovery · postoperative · sedation · analgesia · ligation · intubation · Elizabethan collar

outcome

sterile

Free from microorganisms

infertileUnable to produce offspring
neuteredRendered infertile surgically
fixedRestored or immovable

altered · unproductive · nonbreeding · barren · impotent

Opposites

reproductive capacity

desexbreed

Cultivated variety of animal

inseminate · intact · unaltered · fertilize · impregnate

breeding intention

desexbreed

Cultivated variety of animal

stud · mate · propagate · reproduce · sire

Phrases

sexual desireCraving for physical intimacy
same-sex desireAttraction within one's gender

Family

desexualize, desexing, desexed, desexes

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG