The retractile testis can be a cause of adult infertility

Objective: To determine the functional state of the testes of young adults treated for small and hypotrophic retractile testis at prepubertal age by orchiopexy and/or hormonal therapy and the functional state of the testes of adults with retractile testis. Design: Spermiogram and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study of the semen. Light microscopic and TEM studies of semen and testicular biopsies of adults with retractile testis were performed. Setting: Division of Pediatric Surgery in an academic environment. Patient(s): Thirty-eight young adults (mean age, 18 gears) treated for retractile testis at prepubertal age and seven adults (mean age, 28 years) with retractile testis. Intervention(s): Two cycles of hCG, followed by surgical therapy (orchiopexy) when unsuccessful. Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertility of young adults treated for retractile testis at prepubertal age. Result(s): Only 8 of 38 (21%) young adults had normal spermiograms. Five of 38 (13%) were azoospermic and 25 of 38 (66%) were oligoasthenozoospermic with ultrastructural signs of altered maturation of the sperm and a higher number of atypical forms. Of the adults with retractile testis, 2 of 7 (28.5%) were normal, 3 of 7 (43%) were oligoasthenozoospermic, and 2 of 7 (28%) were azoospermic. Conclusion(s): Our data support the hypothesis that prepubertal retractile testis showing signs of reduced consistency and size is a risk factor for adult infertility and requires treatment. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.