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 in