The controversy regarding the need for hormonal treatment in boys with unilateral cryptorchidism goes on: a review of the literature by B. Ludwikowski and R. González

Abstract

Sir, In their review, Ludwikowski and González [5] discouraged the use of hormones in unilateral cryptorchid boys because (1) the paternity rate is normal in men with unilateral undescended testes treated with surgery alone, (2) the efficacy of hormonal treatment in inducing testicular descent is low, (3) the cost of the treatment is considerable, and (4) there are potential adverse effects associated with treatment.However, despite successful surgery, azoospermia is 25 times more common in unilateral and 80 times more common in bilateral cryptorchidism in comparison with the control population [2]. Thus, cryptorchidism is one of the main etiologic causes of non-obstructive azoospermia in man [1]. Interestingly enough, in unilateral cryptorchid males, no significant differences in frequency of azoospermia was observed irrespective of the treatment modalities used (untreated, 12 % [16/ 134] Therefore, since the endocrinopathy of mini-puberty is responsible for ensuing infertility in cryptorchidism, postsurgical hormonal treatment is highly recommended in cryptorchid boys who have early successful orchidopexy but remain at risk of infertility. Finally, hormonal treatment has been the choice of initial treatment (before surgery) in Europe for years. It abrogates the need for subsequent surgery, and for non-responders, it facilitates orchidopexy and contributes considerably to reducing the incidence of unilateral and bilateral complete post surgical testicular atrophy. References