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Anorchia - Treatment

Alternative Names

Vanishing testes - anorchia; Empty scrotum - anorchia; Scrotum - empty (anorchia)

Treatment:

Treatment includes:

Artificial (prosthetic) testicle implants
Male hormones (androgens)
Psychological support

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook is good with treatment.

Complications:

Complications include:

Face, neck, or back abnormalities (occasionally)
Infertility
Psychological problems due to gender

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your male child appears to have extremely small or absent testicles or does not appear to be entering puberty during his early teens.

Male reproductive anatomy

Male reproductive system

Reviewed last on: 9/7/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Rapaport R. Hypofunction of the testes. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 584.

Sigman M, Jarrow JP. Male infertility. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 19.

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