Fertility after bilateral cryptorchidism. Evaluation by paternity, hormone, and semen data.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the fertility of a cohort of formerly bilaterally cryptorchid men in comparison with a group of formerly unilaterally cryptorchid men, and a group of control men.


METHODS
Using a detailed questionnaire concerning paternity and factors related to paternity, a cohort of formerly bilateral cryptorchid men were studied and compared with men who had undergone orchiopexy for unilateral cryptorchidism, and a group of control men. All study subjects had had surgery at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., between 1955 and 1975. A subset of the full cohort underwent clinical evaluation that included a physical examination, serum hormonal determination and semen analyses.


RESULTS
Paternity rates are significantly lower among the formerly bilaterally cryptorchid men who have attempted to father a child (65.3%) as compared to the formerly unilaterally cryptorchid (89.7%; p < 0.001) and control men (93.2%; p < 0.001). Differences in the ability to father children are also apparent when semen and hormone levels are compared between the three groups. The bilateral group has significantly lower sperm density and inhibin B levels, and higher FSH and LH levels, than the unilateral and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Men born with bilateral cryptorchidism have severely compromised fertility in adulthood. This reduction in fertility is clearly shown in comparisons of both paternity rates, and in semen and hormone analyses, between the formerly bilateral, formerly unilateral, and control groups.
Lee
P A
PA
Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. plee@psu.edu
Coughlin
M T
MT
D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005298:Fertility; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010334:Paternity; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D013076:Sperm Count; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone