Patient's question:
I've been married to my husband for nearly a year. We haven't used any contraception, but we haven't received any good news yet. I've had many tests, but there were no problems found. My husband was diagnosed with abnormal testicles and infertility.Doctor's answer:
Its main hazards are as follows:1. Mental and psychological effects. A young boy who discovers that there are no testicles in his scrotum may develop a sense of inferiority, which, over time, can have a serious impact on his physical and mental health. Due to the aforementioned harms of cryptorchidism, it is important to seek medical treatment promptly if a child is found to have no testicles in the scrotum.
2. Impaired testicular sperm production function. Since the testicles are located in the inguinal canal or retroperitoneum, the temperature there is 1.5–2.5°C higher than in the scrotum. This can lead to atrophy and degeneration of the seminiferous tubules in the testicles, hindering sperm production. If both testicles remain undescended and untreated, severe testicular dysfunction may occur, preventing sperm production and resulting in infertility. Unilateral cryptorchidism can also reduce fertility.
3. Testicular cancer. Individuals with cryptorchidism are more prone to developing testicular malignant tumors, a view shared by urological experts in the medical field. While testicular cancer can also occur in normally positioned testicles, the risk is 30–50 times higher in cryptorchidism. The main reasons include elevated local temperature, endocrine disorders, and incomplete testicular development. Testicular cancer often develops after puberty, and some studies have even found that patients who have undergone orchiopexy (surgical testicular fixation) after puberty remain at risk of cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to perform the surgery as early as possible.
4. Testicular abnormalities leading to male infertility. The testicles are located in the inguinal region and are relatively superficial, making them vulnerable to injury. In some cases, accidental impacts or shocks can cause testicular torsion, which may result in severe pain and even testicular necrosis.