ABSTRACT
A few years ago it was suggested that testicular cancer, hypospadias, cryptorchidism and low sperm counts were all symptoms of a disease complex, the testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS), with a common origin in fetal life1 (Figure 7.1). Knowledge of the etiology of TDS is still rather limited, but environmental and life-style factors are suggested as contributing agents. However, genetic polymorphisms or aberrations may render some individuals particularly susceptible to these exogenous factors. The most severe cases of TDS may include all four symptoms, whereas the least
affected may show only reduced spermatogenesis which is fully compatible with fertility1. Consequently, a person diagnosed with one of the TDS symptoms must be considered at increased risk of harboring one or more of the other symptoms as well.
