Monorchism

Monorchism is the state of having only one testicle within the scrotum.

Causes

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.
• One testicle may disappear during development (the so called vanishing testis) due to some intrauterine insult. This is thought most likely vascular, such as testicular torsion.
• One testicle being surgically removed through Orchidectomy.
• One testicle may be injured.

Notable cases

Due to testicular cancer

• Lance Armstrong, American bicyclist.^[1]
• Frank Church, late U.S. Senator and a Presidential aspirant in 1976. His monorchism was revealed publicly during the 1976 Presidential campaign.^[2]
• Tom Green, Canadian comedian/actor.^[3]
• Mark Latham, Former Australian politician.^[4]
• Geoff Horsfield, English footballer.^[5]

Due to injury

• It was reported in 2008 that Adolf Hitler^[6] lost a testicle during World War One, and in 2009 that Francisco Franco^[7] also lost a testicle during the Moroccan wars. Both claims were made after the records of medics were found.

See also: Did Hitler really have only one testicle?

• Dave England, Jackass cast member.

Monorchism in nonhuman animals

Although extremely rare, monorchism has been observed to be characteristic of some animal species, notably in beetles^[8].

Terminology

An individual having monorchism can be referred to as monorchid.

See also

• Anorchia

References

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