Why does hidden testicles occur? There may be these reasons!

Some people's testicles may be ectopic or incompletely descended, resulting in cryptorchidism. According to professional doctors, incomplete testicular descent is the most common clinical condition. Cryptorchidism can cause great harm, such as infertility, malignant changes, testicular torsion, etc., so timely treatment is required. Before that, let's first understand the many factors that cause cryptorchidism.

1. Why does hidden testicles occur?

Cryptorchidism is caused by abnormal testicular descent. There are many factors that cause abnormal testicular descent, the most common of which are:

1. The gubernaculum testis, which guides the testicles into the scrotum, is abnormal or absent, so that the testicles cannot descend from their original position into the scrotum.

2. Congenital testicular dysplasia makes the testicles insensitive to gonadotropin and loses the power to descend.

3. The luteinizing hormone released by the hypothalamus causes a lack of LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted by the pituitary gland, which can also affect the power of testicular descent. Those caused by endocrine factors are mostly bilateral cryptic testis, while those caused by other factors are mostly unilateral cryptic testis. Sometimes cryptic testis can be combined with inguinal oblique hernia.

2. Causes of Cryptorchidism

1. Anatomical factors

The cord-like gubernaculum that pulls the testicles into the scrotum during the embryonic period degenerates or shrinks, and the testicles cannot descend into the scrotum from their original position. Alternatively, the spermatic cord blood vessels develop slowly or stop developing, resulting in incomplete testicular descent.

2. Endocrine factors

During the growth of the fetus, the mother's lack of sufficient gonadotropin affects the production of testosterone, and the testicles lack the power to descend. Congenital testicular dysgenesis makes the testicles insensitive to gonadotropin and lose the power to descend.

3. Local factors

Such as mechanical obstruction and peritoneal adhesions preventing the normal descent of the testicles.

Cryptorchidism caused by endocrine factors is mostly bilateral, while unilateral cryptorchidism is often related to local and anatomical factors.

3. Clinical manifestations

The second sexual characteristic of patients with cryptic testis is maleness. The scrotum on the affected side is empty and poorly developed. There are no testicles on the scrotum when palpated, and the right side is more common than the left side. The scrotum is asymmetrical in unilateral patients, and there may be no obvious scrotum in bilateral patients. About 80% of the testicles can be palpated on the body surface, mostly located in the inguinal region. The palpated testicle on the affected side is slightly smaller in size than the healthy side, with a softer texture and poor elasticity. Sometimes the testicle and epididymis are separated or there is no epididymis and cannot be pushed into the scrotum. Cryptorchidism is often accompanied by inguinal oblique hernia. When complicated by incarcerated hernia or testicular torsion, acute pain and swelling of the scrotum or inguinal groove occur.

Things to note during physical examination: Keep the room temperature and the examiner's hands warm to prevent cold stimulation from causing testicular retraction. The child can be examined in a supine position, or sit with both thighs abducted and externally rotated (crosslegs position), or in a squatting position. The examiner touches the scrotum with both hands. If it cannot be touched inside the scrotum, carefully check the internal ring opening and inguinal groove area. In addition to whether the testicles can be touched, other special conditions must be identified, especially whether there are sliding testicles and retracted testicles.