What is cryptorchidism?
Cryptorchidism or undescended testicles is a condition in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. It is a problem that affects 4% of newborns. During gestation, one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum. It occurs as a consequence of a deficiency of the hormone AMH. Premature infants are the most prone to suffer from this pathology, although it is usually solved when the baby is nine months old. It is not a serious problem, but it must be addressed.
Symptoms of Cryptorchidism or undescended testicles
The only symptom is that the testicles have not descended properly into the scrotum, which is known as an empty scrotum. In most cases, the testicles descend on their own by the time the child reaches about 9 months of age.
Causes of cryptorchidism or undescended testicles
This anomaly occurs mainly in premature infants. Some have the condition of retractile testicles and the pediatrician has not detected it. If this situation occurs, the testicles are retracted into the scrotum by a muscular reflex, and will descend normally during puberty, so no treatment is necessary.
What is the treatment for cryptorchidism?
If the testicles have not descended on their own during the first year of life, treatment may be required.
Orchidopexy or the cryptorchid operation is the surgical treatment for undescended testicles. This is currently the main treatment for the condition, as orchiopexy can prevent damage to the testicles and avoid sterility. Even so, if the operation is not performed correctly, it can present complications such as testicular damage, sterility or testicular cancer.
Orchidopexy can also be treated with hormone injections such as testosterone.
Normally, the problem will disappear without treatment, but these mechanisms are effective in most cases. Despite this, in 5% of cases, the surgeon is unable to find the testicles at the time of surgery, which is called the absent testicle or missing testicle.