Infertility despite surgery for cryptorchidism in childhood can be classified by patients with normal or elevated follicle‐stimulating hormone and identified at orchidopexy

Abstract

Despite surgery for cryptorchidism, infertility was probable in a third (44 of 135) of the patients. We expected high FSH values in these patients, but in 45% (20/44) the FSH values were normal. These patients may have relative FSH deficiency. At orchidopexy these patients were identified to be bilaterally cryptorchid with few germ cells and those unilaterally cryptorchid had none in the biopsy. After orchidopexy in childhood, additional hormonal treatment, e.g. recombinant FSH or buserelin, may be indicated in these patients.