by Rebecca Mikulin

Created on: November 22, 2011   Last Updated: November 23, 2011

Cryptorchidism is a condition that can cause serious reproductive health issues if it’s not diagnosed and properly treated. Put simply, cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum before a male child is born. Some rare cases involve older boys, where they were born with normal genitals, but one or both testicles retract back out of the scrotum before adolescence.

At best, the condition can be corrected with non-invasive treatment options – at worst, it can cause infertility and a higher risk of testicular cancer. It is extremely important to closely monitor a baby boy’s genital development if he is born with cryptorchidism, especially within the first year. In addition, if you know that you were treated for cryptorchidism – either successfully or unsuccessfully – then it is essential that you learn how to do testicular self-examinations, do them regularly, and know the warning signs for potential problems.

What Causes Cryptorchidism?

It really isn’t clear what causes cryptorchidism, though it is suspected of being a genetic abnormality. The health of the mother during pregnancy may also come into play as well, as some conditions may disrupt the conditions that are needed for normal development. All that is known for certain is that cryptorchidism occurs when a testicle either fails to descend from the abdomen to the scrotum or, in rare cases, is completely absent.

Whatever the root cause, cryptorchidism is a developmental abnormality that is considered very common in premature babies (boys born before 37 weeks’ gestation). A small percentage (about 4%-5%) of full-term babies are born with cryptorchidism.

Cryptorchidism Signs

If a baby has cryptorchidism, one or both testicles will be absent from the scrotum. A medical professional may or may not be able to feel the undescended testicle(s) in the abdomen with a manual examination. This is the only sign of the condition, as it is not associated with any other symptoms or complications until later in life. Most male babies are examined shortly after birth to determine if any further monitoring is needed.

Men who have or had cryptorchidism may experience infertility, and may face testicular health issues such as cancer. In addition, surgery may occasionally damage the testicles, causing similar issues with function and health to appear in adulthood.

Common Treatments for Cryptorchidism

In some cases, cryptorchidism will correct itself within the first few months of life. If it doesn’t, then medical intervention may be necessary to avoid lifelong complications. The most conservative and non-invasive treatment is hormone drug treatment. Oral drugs may help encourage the testicles to descend without any further treatment.

Failing hormonal treatment, the next treatment step for cryptorchidism is surgical correction. With surgery, the testicle can usually be brought down into the scrotum. In some cases, the undescended testicle(s) cannot be located and the condition can’t be corrected.

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