[Acquired undescended testes: treatment and consequences for future fertility]

1-3% of boys develop an acquired undescended testes (UDT), meaning that the testes cannot be returned into the scrotum after previously having been located in a stable scrotal position. Fertility issues for patients with acquired UDT are comparable to those for patients with congenital UDT. Hypothetically speaking, patients with acquired UDT are at lower risk of testicular cancer than patients with congenital UDT. The appearance of an asymmetrical scrotum, which is associated with UDT, may negatively influence quality of life. Over 50% of the acquired UDTs will spontaneously descend at the start of puberty, thereby justifying conservative management of the condition. Orchidopexy directly after diagnosis does not have any advantages over awaiting spontaneous descent until puberty when fertility in later life of patients with unilateral acquired UDT is concerned; however, it may be beneficial in bilateral acquired UDT.