Cryptorchidism and its impact on male fertility: a state of art review of current literature

Abstract

Cryptorchidism is associated with impairment of germ cell maturation and subsequent infertility in adulthood. The present report details common scenarios of referral of men with prior history of cryptorchidism and orchidopexy seeking advice for infertility, and examines the association between cyrptorchidism and male infertility. The increase in the understanding of the hormonal profiles and patho-physiological changes in germ cell maturation in cryptorchid boys may potentially change our approach and management strategies. Improvement in sperm retrieval techniques and micromanipulation techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, has led to excellent fertilization and pregnancy outcomes of treatment cycles.