CALCIFICATION OF TESTICLE

[BSM]

I’m utterly confused.  My wife and I have been trying to have kids since last summer (apprx. 6 mos. ago).  She has been on the pill for nearly 10 years.  Two weeks ago I decided to have a fertility test, just to do it.  So, I made an appointment with a Urologist and he wanted me to give two semen collections and to have a scrotal  ultrasound. Yesterday, I had my follow-up with him to go over the results.  This guy, was the worst at explaining things.  All he said, in a brief 5 minute conversation was the following.  Your sperm count is a little low.  Keep trying and in 6 months or so, if you’re not successful, perhaps we can discuss surgery.  He went on to talk about the ultrasound.  He briefly looked over a report (written) and proceeded to tell me that it appears that you have calcification on your right testicle.  I asked him what does that mean?  He said, calcification is calcification, probably got it from some infection  I’m going to have you take a blood test, and call me in a week.  Now, as far as I can remember, my right testicle has always been smaller than my left one.  Probably, half  the size.  I’ve never ever had any pain relating to my testicles.  I can’t remember any sickness or trauma that could have effected the right testicle.  My question is, what is this surgery he’s talking about to increase the sperm count, second, is a much smaller  testicle an issue, third, what could have caused calcification, as I never had pain, and finally, can this calcification cause cancer?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) If there is a specific disease leading to the decreased sperm count, then surgery may be helpful in remedying this problem.  For instance, varicoceles can sometimes decrease sperm counts, and surgery to correct this issue can lead to fertility in 60 percent of cases.

2) Again, tough to say without knowing why the testicle is smaller.  The best way of determining if this is an issue would be to do the sperm count (as you did) as well as measuring the testosterone level.

3) I am unaware of scrotal calcification being connected to cancer.  Things like prior infection or testicular trauma can lead to testicular scarring and calcification.

If your present urologist isn't giving you satisfactory answers, you can always consider another urological opinion.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

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