Question
A 7-year-old boy has been diagnosed with bilateral inguinal cryptorchidism. In this case, is surgery treatment necessary? What impact will the surgery have on the boy’s future?
Answer
Cryptorchidism is a common congenital developmental disorder that requires early detection and treatment for a good prognosis. There is a risk of cancer in cryptorchidism, so timely surgical treatment is recommended. If the testicles are well-developed, orchidopexy may be considered; if they are underdeveloped, they may need to be removed, which can affect fertility. Generally, such surgeries should be performed before the age of two to avoid affecting testicle development. Therefore, for a 7-year-old boy, surgery is not only necessary but also essential, and the sooner the surgery is performed, the less impact it will have on testicle development.