Undescended Testicle: Fertility Problems

Topic Overview

Men who have or have had an undescended testicle are more likely to have problems with the reproductive system that may cause them to be unable to father a child (infertility).

Most doctors believe that early diagnosis and treatment for an undescended testicle improves chances for fertility in adulthood. Generally, doctors recommend surgical treatment to place the testicle in the scrotum by age 1 and no later than age 2. The location of the undescended testicle and the boy's age when he is treated influence the outcome. Boys who have one undescended testicle that is just above the scrotum or low in the inguinal canal are more likely to be fertile than boys who have two undescended testicles that are high in the inguinal canal or in the abdomen.

Related Information

• Undescended Testicle

References

Other Works Consulted

• Elder JS (2007). Disorders and anomalies of the scrotal contents. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed., pp. 2260–2265. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

• Siegel NJ (2003). Cryptorchidism section of Kidney and urinary tract. In CD Rudolph et al., eds., Rudolph's Pediatrics, 21st ed., pp. 1740–1742. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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