title: The retractile testis can be a cause of adult infertility.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spermiogram and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study of the semen. Light microscopic and TEM studies of semen and testicular biopsies of adult with retractile testis were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Division of Pediatric Surgery in an academic environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight young adults (mean age, 18 years) treated for retractile testis at prepubertal age and seven adults (mean age, 28 years) with retractile testis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cycles of hCG, followed by surgical therapy (orchiopexy) when unsuccessful.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fertility of young adults treated for retractile testis at prepubertal age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: G. Salesi Children's Hospital, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbatelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*