No abstract

Testicular growth in puberty was impaired in congenitally cryptorchid boys. This suggests a poor perinatal development of the cryptorchid testis. The timing of the onset of pubertal testicular growth, however, did not differ which suggests an intact hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Testicular growth during puberty is rapid, and mostly due to germ cell expansion and growth in seminiferous tubule diameter triggered by androgens. Pre-treatment with FSH before the induction of puberty may improve the treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, but remains to be proven.