Hormone Therapy for Undescended Testicle
Why It Is Used
A doctor may suggest hCG shots to help decide whether surgery is needed. If the testicle can be made to descend using hormone therapy, surgery may not be needed. If the testicle does not descend—even temporarily—with hCG shots, it is not likely to do so on its own; and surgery may be needed.
HCG also stimulates enlargement of the testicles and growth of blood vessels to the testicles. Surgery may be easier when the testicle is larger and has an improved blood supply.
Some testicles may descend only part of the way or for a short time, when a boy is treated with hormones. But this may still be helpful, because the testicle may descend to a position that is easier to treat with surgery.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Reference Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology |
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