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AAP Grand Rounds 4:2-3 (2000)
© 2000 American Academy of Pediatrics

UROLOGY

Risk to Developing Germ Cells from Hormonal Treatment of Cryptorchidism

Source: Cortes D, Thorup J, Visfeldt, J. Hormonal treatment may harm the germ cells in 1- to 3-year-old boys with cryptorchidism. J Urol. 2000;163:1290–1292.

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

Nearly 3% of boys in the western world undergo surgery to correct cryptorchidism. Hormonal treatment of cryptorchidism with HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) or GNRH (gonadotrophin releasing hormone)distinguishes retractile testes from true undescended testes and causes testicular descent in about 20% of boys.1 Normally, from the age of 9 months through later in childhood gonadotrophin and testosterone levels are suppressed and there is a slow maturation of the germinal layer of the testes. Biopsy of the testes from the age of 1–3 years reveals a small number of spermatogonia or germ cells developing within the tubules. A very low number of germ cells in the child’s testes are somewhat predictive of future fertility. The Danish authors asked if exposure to HCG or GNRH in the immature testes, when natural levels of gonadotrophins are normally depressed, could potentially damage the germ . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Anthony Casale, MD, FAAP
Pediatrics Urology, Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, IN