He has just one testicle
Dear Dr Mitchell,
I have just started dating a new man, and upon inspecting him, I discovered that he seems to have only one testicle instead of two. I am afraid to broach the subject with him, because he is a bit shy sexually. What could have caused this? He was in a car crash a few years ago. I also realise that he is not very virile, although he is just 28 years old. Could this be the reason? The problem that your new lover has appears to be undescended testes. The other possibility is that he could have had one testis removed surgically because of torsion of the testis or a malignant tumour in the testis.Undescended testes could be a distinct possibility. If he had surgery done, then there would be a scar present on the scrotum, although this can sometimes be relatively faint and not readily detected. Some males are born with the testes in the inguinal canal or in the groin region. The testes can sometimes descend into the scrotum and go back into the groin intermittently. Once this is detected, surgery should be done to secure the testes in the scrotal sac. This helps to prevent the testes from becoming non-functional from the higher temperatures they are exposed to in the inguinal canal or groin. High temperatures can lead to a reduction in sperm production and subsequent infertility.In some cases the testes can become twisted, and the blood supply is then cut off. This is called testicular torsion. This is a surgical emergency and must be corrected immediately to prevent a testis from losing its blood supply, thus causing it to lose function completely.In rare cases there may be a tumour in the testis that necessitates removal of the organ. It is important that you have a discussion with your new partner about this and get some details. If he has not done any operation on the testis, then he should get a complete physical examination and an ultrasound done to localise the undescended testis. If it is still in the groin or inguinal canal, it might be totally functionless and would have to be removed surgically.The earlier he gets medical attention, the better the outcome. If he has one good testis, then he should still be fertile. He can have a semen analysis done to assess his sperm production and motility. It is important that you engage him in this discussion as soon as possible and address any concerns about his fertility. This is important in moving forward so that you can both be comfortable in the relationship.
Dr Sharmaine Mitchell is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Send questions via e-mail to allwoman@jamaicaobserver.com; write to All Woman, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Ave, Kingston 5; or fax to 968-2025. All responses are published. Dr Mitchell cannot provide personal responses.
DISCLAIMER:
The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and must not be relied upon as an alternative to medical advice or treatment from your own doctor.
