# Undescended Testicles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693 "2005-06-17T12:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/1 "2005-06-17T12:43:20Z")
Can they still produce enough viable sperm to get someone pregnant? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/2 "2005-06-17T15:16:48Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Can they still produce enough viable sperm to get someone pregnant? They’re all nonproducers of sperm as far as I’m aware. Spermatogenesis cannot take place at normal core body temps, that’s why the twins are where they are. Nor can they develop and mature normally during childhood and pubescence if they’re stuck up high. Undescended testicles are also at very high risk for cancer. That’s why it’s recommended that they be removed if they won’t come on down. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/3 "2005-06-17T17:26:20Z")
If only one teste is undescended, the other teste can produce enough spermatazoa for the individual to be fertile. If both are intra-abdominal, the individual should be infertile. In dogs, the possibility exists for a teste to be undescended, yet not in the abdomen. They exist somewhere between the inguinal ring and the scrotum, subcutaneously. I do not know if this is possible in a human. **QtheM**? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/4 "2005-06-17T22:29:52Z")
**Undescended Testicles** Best. band. name. ever. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/5 "2005-06-18T04:08:32Z")
The technical name for failure of the testicles to descend is “cryptorchidism”. I have no reason for posting this except to show off that I know it. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/6 "2005-06-18T13:22:38Z")
> [@Rhubarb](#): > > **Undescended Testicles** > > Best. band. name. ever. For a boy band or a girl band? We had an all-female bluegrass band called Sidesaddle, which I thought was pretty cute. [/hijack] DD ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undescended-testicles/308693/7 "2005-06-18T14:57:51Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > If only one teste is undescended, the other teste can produce enough spermatazoa for the individual to be fertile. If both are intra-abdominal, the individual should be infertile. In dogs, the possibility exists for a teste to be undescended, yet not in the abdomen. They exist somewhere between the inguinal ring and the scrotum, subcutaneously. I do not know if this is possible in a human. **QtheM**? I’ve seen two cases where one of the boys was in that position. There, I’m not sure if they can be fertile or not. I’ll have to consult my urologist friends. I do know that in one case the surgeon just moved it into the scrotum (on an adult patient).