[Obscurity still exists with regard to the policy in undescended testes: early operation versus well-underpinned wait-and-see policy].
The frequency of orchidopexy in the Netherlands is higher than the frequency of genuine undescended testes in spite of an existing consensus guideline on the subject. Evidence that orchidopexy has a positive effect on fertility or the decrease of testicular malignancy is lacking. Clinical trials are necessary to answer the question whether orchidopexy before the age of 2 years prevents malignancy or improves fertility. It is important that research that shows no results of early orchidopexy is also published. A public health approach is necessary to prevent unnecessary surgical interventions.
HiraSing
R A
RA
VU Medisch Centrum, afd. Sociale Geneeskunde, Instituut voor Extramuraal Geneeskundig Onderzoek, Amsterdam. ra.hirasing@vumc.nl
van Leerdam
F J M
FJ
D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome