Monorchism

Monorchism
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	Q55.0
ICD-9	752.89

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 to be 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.
• Frank Church, late U.S. Senator and a Presidential aspirant in 1976. His monorchism was revealed publicly during the 1976 Presidential campaign.
• Tom Green, Canadian comedian/actor.
• Mark Latham, Former Australian politician.
• Geoff Horsfield, English footballer.

Due to injury

• Adolf Hitler, Chancellor in Germany (possibly, see Hitler's possible monorchism)
• Dave England, Jackass cast member.
• Mao Zedong, known as Chairman Mao, Chinese revolutionary.
• Francisco Franco, Dictator of Spain.
• Troy Bayliss, world superbike champion in 2001, 2006 and 2008. In 2007 he lost a testicle during a race at Doninghton Park .
• Barnacle Jim, American cross country face bike champion in 2007 and 2010.
• Hermann Goering, leading member of the Nazi party

Monorchism in nonhuman animals

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

Terminology

An individual having monorchism can be referred to as monorchid.

See also

• Anorchia