Question
What treatment options are available for undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) in newborns, and what is the prognosis?
Answer
Cryptorchidism refers to the condition where one or both testicles of a male infant fail to descend into the scrotum after birth, instead remaining in various positions such as the inguinal canal, the entrance to the scrotum, or the external ring of the inguinal canal. Typically, the testicles ascend from the retroperitoneal area behind the abdomen during fetal development and enter the scrotum in the late stages of pregnancy. If an obstacle occurs during this process, cryptorchidism is formed. For infants under one year old, hormonal treatment may be attempted, such as injections of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and sometimes the testicles can descend into the scrotum on their own. If the testicles do not descend by one year of age, surgical treatment, known as testicular fixation surgery, is usually recommended. This procedure should be performed before the age of two years to reduce the impact on testicular spermatogenic function. For adolescents with cryptorchidism, surgery should also be performed promptly once it is discovered, as undescended testicles in a warm environment may undergo malignant transformation. Even in cases of unilateral cryptorchidism, since the undescended testicle may cause problems with sperm quality or there is a risk of malignant transformation, early surgical treatment is recommended.