Health Encyclopedia

Anorchia

Definition

Anorchia is the absence of both testes at birth.

Alternative Names

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

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

In the first several weeks after fertilization, the embryo develops rudimentary sex organs, which are crucial to the development of internal and external genitalia. In the male, if these early testes fail to develop before 8 weeks gestation, the baby will have female genitalia.

If the testes are lost between 8 and 10 weeks, ambiguous genitalia will be seen at birth. This means that elements of both male and female internal and external genitalia will be seen.

However, if the testes are lost after the critical phase of male differentiation between 12 and 14 weeks, the baby will have normal male internal and external genitalia (penis and scrotum), but the testes will be absent. This is known as congenital anorchia, or the "vanishing testes syndrome."

The specific cause is unknown, but in some cases genetic factors are apparent.

Symptoms

Normal outside genitalia before puberty
Failure to enter puberty at expected time and lack of secondary sex characteristics (growth of penis, body and pubic hair growth, deepening of the voice, and increase in muscle mass)

Signs and tests

Signs include:

Empty scrotum
Lack of secondary sex characteristics

Tests include:

Testosterone levels (low)
FSH and LH levels (elevated)
X,Y karyotype
Ultrasound or MRI showing absent gonadal tissue
Bone density (low)
Anti-Mullerian hormone levels (low)
Surgical exploration to search for evidence of male gonadal tissue

Failure of testosterone to rise after hCG distinguishes anorchia from cryptorchidism.

Treatment

Treatment includes androgen (male hormone) supplementation, testicular prosthetic implantation, and psychological support.

Expectations (prognosis)

Prognosis is good with treatment.

Complications

Complications include infertility, psychological problems related to gender, and occasional face, neck, or back abnormalities.

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.

Review Date:8/11/2006
Reviewed By:Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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