Fertility and sexual development after bilateral orchiopexy for cryptorchidism

Data were collected on 27 patients operated on for bilateral undescended testes. The information included age at operation, reoperations, testis size and location at first operation, testis size in adulthood, sexual behavior and presence of secondary sexual characteristics. The data were related to fertility, as assessed on the basis of spermatograms. A fertility rate of 33.3% was found. The ideal age for operation could not be established, but it was concluded that operation should not be delayed beyond the age of 12 years and that reoperation significantly reduced eventual fertility. It was found that the initial size and location of the testes had no influence on fertility, but that there was a higher rate of infertility in adults with small testes. Despite the high rate of infertility, all patients showed normal sexual development and behavior.