The increase in number of orchidopexies: rather cause than prevention of male infertility.
Because of the present tendency to operate early on undescended testes, the indication for orchidopexy amounts to six-to-seven times the justified number in the Netherlands and two-to-three times in Flanders! The tendency to operate early has surely caused more fertility damage than prevented it. This critical statement asks for consideration and urges everybody concerned to a more accurate and repeated physical examination of the genital region and to a conservative attitude regarding treatment.
Steeno
O
O
Universitair Gezondheidscentrum, School voor Maatschappelijke Gezondheidszorg, Afdeling Jeuggezondheidszorg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven/Belgium.
Van Gerven
V
V
Knops
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*