LAUSR

AIM Ascending testes has been documented to be descended in scrotum within the first year of life and then re-ascended. The aim of the study was to investigate to what extend the fertility potential was impaired in boys with such testes compared to the fertility potential of boys with late referral congenital cryptorchidism. METHODS From 2011-2018, 153 consecutive boys had bilateral orchidopexy performed between 2 and 7 (median 3.9) years of age. Sixty-seven boys were diagnosed with bilateral ascended testes and 86 boys with late referral bilateral congenital cryptorchidism. We assessed serum levels of inhibin B and gonadotropins and the histological parameters; number of germ cells per tubule cross-section (G/T) and number of Ad spermatogonia per tubule cross-section (AdS/T). All values were compared to our normal material. RESULTS Mean G/T of boys with ascended testes were not significantly higher than that of boys with congenital cryptorchidism (median 0.50 (range 0-2.29) versus 0.37 (0-2.57), p=0.11). 60% (40/67) of boys with ascending testes had mean G/T below normal range (versus 66%, p=0.40). Biopsies absent of Ad spermatogonia were noted in 31% (21/67) and 34% (29/86) of boys with ascending testes or congenital cryptorchidism, respectively (p=0.76). Serum levels of inhibin B and gonadotropins did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION The fertility potential of boys with bilateral ascended testes was impaired to almost the same level as that of boys with bilateral congenital cryptorchidism and should therefore be surgically corrected as soon as the diagnosis of ascended testes is settled.