A 10-Year Retrospective Study: Is Maternal Diabetes a Risk Factor for Associated Anomalies in Males With Cryptorchidism?

Background and objective Cryptorchidism, or undescended testes (UDT), refers to the failure of one or both testicles to descend to their natural position in the scrotum of newborn males. The association of gestational diabetes with cryptorchidism has not been studied sufficiently. Hence, this study aimed to analyze the association between maternal diabetes and cryptorchidism and other associated anomalies among Jordanian male children. Methods We conducted a retrospective study involving women and their cryptorchid offspring over a 10-year period, between January 2010 and December 2019. The data were collected using a retrospective review of the hospital records and questionnaires administered via phone calls. We included all patients with cryptorchidism and excluded children with a diagnosis of disorders of sexual development. Results A total of 368 children with cryptorchidism were included, with 29 mothers suffering from gestational or type II diabetes at the time of pregnancy. About 25% of patients suffered from associated anomalies, the most common being genital anomalies, while hypospadias was the most common associated anomaly. We observed no differences in terms of the age of diagnosis or treatment of cryptorchidism between children born to diabetic and those born to nondiabetic mothers. Conclusions Diabetic mothers have a higher chance of having offspring with anomalies that might co-occur with cryptorchidism, particularly urogenital anomalies. Further research is needed to explore the link between maternal diabetes and these abnormalities. Screening for gestational diabetes is critical, and more extensive studies could provide clearer recommendations for screening protocols and early intervention.