Undescended Testicle
An undescended testicle, called cryptorchidism or testicular maldescent, is a common condition in which one or both of the testes, the male reproductive glands, do not completely descend from the abdomen into the scrotum during gestation. Approximately three out of every 100 full term males are born with an undescended testicle. By the age of one, most of these testicles fully descend on their own.The function of the testicle is to produce hormones and sperm. If the testicle is not in the "correct place," it does not grow, develop or function correctly. Additionally, cryptorchidism is associated with testicular cancer.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of an undescended testicle is not known. Risk factors include:- Family history (having a father or brother with this condition)
- Older mothers who have been exposed to toxic chemicals or are in poor health
- Low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilograms) or premature birth (before 37 weeks gestation)
- Down syndrome
- Endocrine disorders
Symptoms
The
obvious symptom is that one or both testicles are not located in the
scrotum. Other abnormalities of the male genitals or urinary tract also
may be present, such as an abnormal opening at the end of the penis
(called hypospadia). The undescended testicle may be:
- In the abdomen
- Partially descended
- Descended somewhere other than the scrotum (ectopic)
- Completely absent (about 5% of cases). This may result from an abnormality in the testicular blood vessels or twisting of the testicle (testicular torsion) in utero.
- Moving in and out of the scrotum with muscle contractions (retractile). This usually requires no treatment.
