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Monorchism

Having only one testicle within the scrotum From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Monorchism (also monorchidism) is the state of having only one testicle within the scrotum.

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Terminology

An individual having monorchism can be referred to as monorchid.

Causes

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This can be due to one testicle:

  • Not descending into the scrotum during normal embryonic or fetal development (3–4% of "normal" live births), also known as undescended testis or cryptorchidism. In this case the testis is within the abdominal cavity, somewhere along the normal route of descent – most commonly, within the inguinal canal. Such a testis has an increased risk of malignancy.
  • Disappearing during development (the so-called vanishing testis) due to some intrauterine insult. This is thought to be most likely vascular, such as testicular torsion.
  • Not being created in the first place (gonadal agenesis), known as congenital monorchism. (As of 1974, this was believed to occur in roughly 1 in every 5,000 people with a male phenotype. In contrast, absence of both testes, known as congenital anorchism, was believed to occur in roughly 1 in 20,000.)[1]
  • Being surgically removed through orchiectomy.
  • Being injured.
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Notable cases

Due to testicular cancer

Due to injury

Due to cryptorchidism

Due to congenital monorchism

  • Dara Ó Briain, Irish comedian related that he has a single testicle in a standup routine.

Unknown

Monorchism in nonhuman animals

Although extremely rare, monorchism has been observed to be characteristic of some animal species, notably in beetles.[21]

See also

References

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