[The hypophyseal-testicular system in cryptorchism patients following surgical treatment]

The status of the hypophyseal-testicular system was studied in 80 patients at various time after operation to assess the results of surgical treatment of cryptorchidism. In patients operated on for unilateral cryptorchidism the level of FSH exceeded normal values in 23% of cases, LH--in 13%, the level of testosterone was lowered in 15%. In patients after orchiopexy for bilateral cryptorchidism a rise of the FSH level was 3-fold more frequent (78%), of the LH level--5-fold (64%) and the level of testosterone decreased 2-fold more frequently (34%). A conclusion is that in a majority of patients with bilateral cryptorchidism FSH and LH values do not return to normal in the postoperative period whereas in unilateral cryptorchidism they do not differ significantly from their normal values. The most severe hormonal disorders were noted in patients operated on at later time. Therefore it necessitates early surgical treatment of cryptorchidism. Severe hormonal disorders were usually combined with considerable changes in spermatogenesis, especially in patients with bilateral retention operated on in the post pubertal period.