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5.3.1 UNDESCENDED TESTICLES
The testicles (male sex glands)—like the ovaries (female sex glands)—are formed within the abdomen during the development of the embryo. However, before a baby boy is born they descend from his abdomen into his scrotum (the bag of skin which hangs between his legs just behind the penis). !n some rare cases, the testicles fail to descend. This can be due to some hormonal deficiency or some other reason. If a boy approaches the age of puberty in this condition, treatment becomes necessary because the testicles cannot produce sperm at body temperature, and thus infertility would result. Hormone replacement or surgery can usually bring about the proper development.
There are also (even rarer) cases where the testicles prove to be imperfect or absent altogether. Boys with this problem can also be given hormonal treatment so that they develop physically just as other boys. However, for obvious reasons they will remain sterile. A normal physical appearance can be achieved by a surgical insertion of artificial testicles into the scrotum.
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