[Therapy of prepubertal cryptorchism. Clinical experiences with LH-RH treatment]

The etiology of cryptorchidism is not uniform. Insufficiency of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis is one of the main etiologic factors. For treatment of this disorder both HCG and LH-RH could be used. The rate of success of both hormonal treatments is comparable. Hormonal investigations show no significant changes for LH after cessation of treatment but significant decrease in FSH after 4 weeks of nasal spray treatment. This is more pronounced if the treatment was successful. There was no significant difference in the number of the germ cells before and after treatment. This indicates that hormonal treatment has no anti-fertility effect on cryptorchid gonads. With LH-RH a physiological stimulation of the pituitary is achievable. LH-RH stimulates by this way the Leydig cells to develop. The mode of administration is gentle and suitable for children. Side effects due to increased plasma testosterone as after HCG were not observed.