1.What is cryptorchidism? Cryptorchidism, also known as incomplete testicular descent, means that the testicle does not descend into the scrotum, but stays anywhere along the descent pathway, i.e., retroperitoneum to the top of the scrotum. The sliding testicle and the wandering testicle are special types of cryptorchidism. The sliding testis is located at the height of the external ring opening (above the scrotum, lateral to the pubic symphysis) and can be made to descend to the scrotum by manipulation, but after release the testis returns to its original position; the wandering testis is a testis that wanders within the scrotum or outside the scrotum and can be palpated. Ectopic testis is a testicle located next to the physiological descending channel, such as above the pubic symphysis, in the groin or perineum. 2.What are the dangers of cryptorchidism? It is recognized that cryptorchidism will produce many kinds of harm if not treated in time, so once cryptorchidism is found, it should be treated early. (1) Infertility: The reproductive index of cryptorchidism is significantly lower than the normal expected value at all ages, and only treatment at the age of 1 year or even younger can protect the ability of the testes to produce sperm to the greatest extent. 15% of unilateral cryptorchidism patients treated at the age of 4 to 14 have sperm deficiency and 30% have oligospermia, and 83.5% of unilateral cryptorchidism patients treated after puberty have sperm deficiency or oligospermia. Only 25% of patients with bilateral cryptorchidism achieve normal fertility after treatment. (2) Testicular cancer: The incidence of testicular tumor in men with cryptorchidism is 40 times higher than that of normal men. The higher the location of cryptorchidism and the later the operation time, the higher the possibility of testicular tumor. At the same time, the risk of tumor in the normal descending testicle on the opposite side due to malignant transformation of one side of the cryptorchid will also increase. (3) Inguinal hernia or syringomyelia: About 90% of patients with undescended testis combined with unclosed sphincter are prone to inguinal hernia or syringomyelia. (4) Testicular torsion: Because of the anatomical abnormality between the cryptorchid and its mesentery, testicular torsion is more likely to occur than in normal testes. Although testicular torsion is rare in cryptorchidism, the possibility of testicular torsion should be considered when ipsilateral abdominal pain or groin pain occurs in a person with an empty scrotum. 3.How to deal with cryptorchidism? (1) Usually the spontaneous descent of the testis is completed within 3 months after birth, after which it is difficult to descend spontaneously. Therefore, it is important to check whether the testicles are in the scrotum at an early stage after birth, and if they have not descended into the scrotum by 6 months, they should receive treatment in time. (2) The treatment of cryptorchidism mainly includes hormone treatment and surgery to fix the testicles in the scrotum (testicular descent fixation). However, because hormone treatment is not very effective and has side effects, surgery is currently considered the best treatment method. (3) The best age for testicular fixation is 6 months after birth, and it is recommended that it be performed no later than 1 week of age. (4) For patients with cryptorchidism in adolescence or later, testicular descending fixation should be performed as soon as it is detected. If the testicle is found to have shrunk or cannot descend into the scrotum during surgery, orchiectomy can be performed if necessary. 4.What do patients need to pay attention to after cryptorchidism surgery? In addition to the usual postoperative precautions, patients with cryptorchidism need to pay attention to the following matters after surgery: (1) Wear loose underwear for at least 2 to 3 months after surgery. (1) Wear loose underwear for at least 2 to 3 months after surgery. The process of postoperative wound repair will cause adhesions between the spermatic cord and the surrounding tissues, and wearing tight underwear before the wound is completely healed may cause the testicles to be lifted and fixed in the upper part of the scrotum. In addition, wearing tight underwear for a long time may lead to relatively high scrotal temperature, which is not good for testicular function. Therefore, wearing tight underwear is not recommended for patients after cryptorchidism surgery. (2) The negative impact of cryptorchidism on male fertility is undeniable. In order to protect the spermatogenic function of the testes which may be damaged as much as possible, besides not wearing tight underwear, avoid putting the scrotum under relatively high temperature, such as taking sauna, steam bath and hot water bath frequently. In addition, avoiding long-term exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive toxic and harmful substances is also very important to protect the spermatogenic function of testicles. (3) It is clear that cryptorchidism increases the chance of testicular malignancy. Although testicular descending fixation makes the testicles easier to be examined and testicular malignancy can be detected earlier, the surgery cannot reduce the risk of testicular tumor. Therefore, after cryptorchidism surgery, patients should always pay attention to whether the testicles are enlarged or not, and whether the masses are touched, etc. If there is any abnormal finding, they should go to the hospital for examination in time.