Testicular Cancer and Disorders
Occasionally—in 2 percent of full term and 10 percent of premature male babies—one or, more rarely, both testes will fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum during embryonic development. Often the affected testis will descend on its own within a few months of birth. Undescended testis is sometimes caused by dysfunctional hormones that control the development of the spermatic cord, which is comprised of the vas deferens and supporting nerves and blood vessels. When the hormones do not send the correct signals, the spermatic cord does not lengthen sufficiently for the testis to descend, develop normally, and eventually produce sperm. If neither testis descends, the man will be infertile. The problem may be corrected by surgery within the first few years of life. A direct blow to the scrotum or twisting of the testis and spermatic cord may cause painful swelling. If pain is accompanied by fever, the swelling may be caused by infection of the testis or epididymis. Swelling withou...