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- $Unique_ID{BRK00189}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{The Concern About a Singular Testicle}
- $Subject{testicle fertility undescended Genitourinary System Singular testis
- testicles intrauterine gonads testicular cryptorchidism scrotal sperm Torsion
- spermatic cord tunica vaginal sac gonadal scrotum infertility infertile
- fertile sterile sterility}
- $Volume{J-22}
- $Log{
- Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System*0006001.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- The Concern About a Singular Testicle
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- QUESTION: My son has but one testicle. Should we be concerned?
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- ANSWER: Lack of one testicle does not necessarily pose a serious cause for
- concern, though early diagnosis is important since fertility problems and
- cancer risks can develop in some cases. Actually, the absence of a testicle
- is more common than one would expect--occurring once among every 5000 males.
- The condition can result from a failure of the testis to develop properly from
- the primary fetal cell mass that would normally produce this organ. It can
- also occur when the blood supply to the testis meets with interference during
- intrauterine life or if a viral infection involving the gonads develops. In
- most cases, reproductive and hormonal function remain normal with the opposite
- testis compensating for the loss by becoming slightly larger than normal.
- However, if the remaining testis is damaged testicular function can be
- endangered, and for this reason the nature and timing of the testicular loss
- is important to determine. If a condition called cryptorchidism exists (when
- the testicle remains within the abdominal cavity instead of descending into
- the scrotal sac as it should), there can be adverse consequences, and the
- earlier it's treated, the better the chance of preventing complications. This
- position, inside the body, places the testicle in an environment with
- temperatures that are higher than normal in the scrotum and affects its
- ability to produce normal, fertile sperm. Torsion is another danger,
- involving the potential twisting of the spermatic cord or the twisting of the
- testis within the tunica vaginal sac. This causes blockage in the vessels
- that nourish the organ, and depending on the number of twists and the duration
- of the obstruction, the testis can become a dead, structureless mass. To make
- matters worse, torsion can have a bilateral effect, forcing the other testis
- to suffer the same fate. Because of this danger, early detection and removal
- of the affected organ is often necessary.
- The risk of germ-cell tumors is 20-40 times greater for patients with
- cryptorchidism due to the abdominal location of the undescended testis.
- Treating the malignancy will almost certainly damage fertility, but it has
- been clinically proven that children usually sustain less gonadal damage than
- adults given the same cancer therapies.
- Though the risk I've described here must seem frightening, I do not
- intend to alarm you. However, knowledge of the possible risks will encourage
- you to seek the medical advice and care that is necessary and prevent the more
- serious consequences and complications of this condition.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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