Résumé
Hormones were largely used for undescended testis (UDT) during the 1900s. However, in the early 2000s the Nordic consensus no longer recommended hormonal treatment and instead advocated surgery as first line management of UDT.1 Based on 3 meta-analyses of randomized trials, the Nordic group found that human chorionic gonadotropin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) provided poor results and were associated with frequent testis reascension to a suprascrotal position. Some studies also raised suspicion about possible side effects such as temporary inflammatory changes in the testes, germ cell apoptosis and reduction in the number of germ cells in adulthood, especially when the treatment was given in children 1 to 3 years old.2 The American Urological Association3 and the Canadian Urological Association4 did not recommend hormonal therapy. Most guidelines subsequently focused on the timing of surgery, recommending that it be performed before age 1 year as the best way to preserve fertility in these children, although there is no guarantee of normal fertility later in life.5 Thus, hormonal treatment has been ignored for more than 15 years and has been overlooked by pediatric urologists.