Hormonal therapy for cryptorchidism with a combination of human chorionic gonadotropin and follicle-stimulating hormone. Success and relapse rate.

We treated 163 patients (Tanner stage I), aged 1 to 11 years, with cryptorchidism with a combination of 500 to 2000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin divided into two intramuscular injections and given weekly and 75 IU of follicle-stimulating hormone once a week for 6 weeks. One hundred twelve patients had unilateral cryptorchidism. Response to therapy, which is descent of testes into scrotum, by age group was as follows: 2 (13.3%) of 15 patients aged 1 to 2 years; 8 (29.6%) of 27 patients aged 3 to 4 years; 13 (38.2%) of 34 patients aged 5 to 6 years; and 18 (50%) of 36 patients aged 7 to 11 years. Fifty-one patients had bilateral cryptorchidism. Response by age group was as follows: 1 (16.6%) of 6 patients aged 1 to 2 years; 3 (27.2%) of 11 patients aged 3 to 4 years; 6 (37.5%) of 16 (plus unilateral descent in 1 patient) aged 5 to 6 years; and 10 (55.5%) of 18 patients aged 7 to 11 years. The results are comparable with those obtained with human chorionic gonadotropin treatment alone. A relapse rate of 9.7% after 18 months of follow-up seemed to be lower compared with those reported with treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone or treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin alone.