During the fetal stage, the testicles begin their journey to the scrotum but stop at some point and do not finish traveling to their natural position. Thus, the testes may be found somewhere along the way down into the scrotum.
Next, we list the main types of cryptorchidism:
- Congenital undescended testicles
- occurs when the testicles have not descended in the fetal stage, that is, they have never occupied the scrotum and, although they can be located by palpation, they cannot move without surgery because they go back up to the elevated position.
- Absent testicle or anorchia
- occurs in case the male gonad (the testicle) is not found by palpation, neither by complementary techniques nor by surgery.
- Ectopic testicle
- is named in this way when it may be located, but not in the channel of descent into the scrotum, but in another abdominal position.
On the other hand, there are two other types of cryptorchidism of non-congenital (acquired) origin. These are the acquired undescended testicles and the so-called elevator testicle.
In the first case, the testicles descend during the first year, but later rise again, so follow-up should be done up to 5 or even 10 years.
Elevating testicle occurs when it is possible to lower the testicle manually even though it is not in the scrotal sac.
Read the full article on: Cryptorchidism: a testicular disorder causing infertility ( 62).
Zaira Salvador
B.Sc., M.Sc.
Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology from the Technical University of Valencia (UPV). Biotechnology Degree from the National University of Ireland en Galway (NUIG) and embryologist specializing in Assisted Reproduction, with a Master's Degree in Biotechnology of Human Reproduction from the University of Valencia (UV) and the Valencian Infertility Institute (IVI)
License: 3185-CV
