Sperm Production in Men with One Testicle

Normal Sperm Production with One Testicle

• Men with a unilateral testicle can produce sperm with normal parameters, including concentration, motility, and morphology, allowing for fertility rates nearly equivalent to those of men with two testicles 1
• Paternity rates among men with a history of unilateral cryptorchidism that was surgically corrected are nearly equivalent to those for men without cryptorchidism 1

Fertility Potential and Considerations

• While men with one testicle can produce normal sperm, they may be at higher risk for decreased fertility if the remaining testicle has any structural or functional abnormalities 1
• Normal semen parameters include sperm concentration ≥16 million/mL, total sperm number ≥39 million per ejaculate, progressive motility ≥30%, and ≥4% morphologically normal forms 2

Monitoring and Management

• Regular self-examination of the remaining testicle is important as men with a history of undescended testicle have a 3.6-7.4 times higher risk of developing testicular cancer 1
• If fertility issues arise, a comprehensive semen analysis should be performed to assess sperm parameters according to WHO reference limits 2

Potential Complications and Considerations

• If the solitary testicle is the result of cryptorchidism, there may be structural abnormalities in the remaining testicle that could affect fertility 1
• Men with bilateral cryptorchidism have significantly lower paternity rates compared to those with unilateral cryptorchidism or men without cryptorchidism 1