Keywords
Cryptorchidism; Epididymis; Non-Fusion; Fertility
Abstract
Introduction: We performed a prospective study to assess the impact of Epididymal anomalies in index fertility of undescended testes comparing to a control group receiving Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH).
Materials and methods: Twenty-four boys with cryptorchidism were randomly divided into two groups: Those who were treated with GnRH before Surgery (group1) (n=12) and those who underwent orchidopexy only (group 2) (n=12). During Surgery, the relationship between the testis and epididymis was noted. In both groups, testicular biopsies were obtained and fertility index was determined.
Results: Epididymal anomalies were noted in 6 patients of group 1 and 7 patients of group 2. For all patients, there was a statistically significant difference regarding the index fertility between the two groups (p=0.002) (mean of fertility index: 0.88vs 0.49), which wasn’t noted in patients with Epididymal anomalies taken separately. For these, fertility index was considerably low compared to patients with normal epididymo-testis structure. For patients of group1, the mean fertility index was 0.7 in testes with Epididymal anomaly and 1.02 in those with normal epididymo-testis relationship.
Conclusion: These data suggests that the fertility impairment in patients with Epididymal anomalies associated with cryptorchidism should be reviewed; other studies with larger sample are needed, obstruction probably do not explain the future fertility in those patients.
Citation
Jallouli M, Chtourou R, Zitouni H, Dhaou MB, Rebai T and Mhiri R. Do Epididymal AnomaliesAffect the Index Fertility in Patients with Cryptorchidism?. SM J Pediatr Surg. 2015;1(2):1006.