世界范围内,新生足月婴儿的隐睾症患病率是 2% 至 8%。[2]Virtanen HE, Toppari J. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of cryptorchidism. Hum Reprod Update. 2008 Jan-Feb;14(1):49-58.https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/14/1/49/823056http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18032558?tool=bestpractice.com 在出生几个月后,患病率下降到 1% 至 2%,因为 3 个月时新生儿睾酮达到峰值,先天性隐睾症可能会自行消退。[3]Brucker-Davis F, Pointis G, Chevallier D, et al. Update on cryptorchidism: endocrine, environmental and therapeutic aspects. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 Jun;26(6):575-87.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12952375?tool=bestpractice.com 虽然评估隐睾症发病率趋势的可靠前瞻性研究较少,但英国研究已经发现了一些最相关的内容。 第一项研究开展于 20 世纪 60 年代,结果显示出生时发病率为 4.2%,3 个月时则为 0.97%。[4]Scorer CG. The descent of the testis. Arch Dis Child. 1964 Dec;39:605-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2019243/pdf/archdisch01585-0073.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14230757?tool=bestpractice.com 几十年后开展了第二项研究,结果显示出生时发病率为 5.01%,3 个月时则为 1.78%。[5]John Radcliffe Hospital Cryptorchidism Study Group. Cryptorchidism: a prospective study of 7500 consecutive male births, 1984-8. Arch Dis Child. 1992 Jul;67(7):892-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1793845/pdf/archdisch00636-0010.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1355643?tool=bestpractice.com 近期的第三项研究,报告的患病率是每 1000 名男性活婴中有 7.6 例;其中每 1000 名 0 到 4 岁的男孩,接受睾丸固定术的比例是 1.8 例。[6]Abdullah NA, Pearce MS, Parker L, et al. Birth prevalence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias in northern England, 1993-2000. Arch Dis Child. 2007 Jul;92(7):576-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17142312?tool=bestpractice.com 对于发病率升高可能是由于内分泌失调/环境暴露所致的相关报告尚有争议,需要更多的研究来证明或反驳这一假说。[3]Brucker-Davis F, Pointis G, Chevallier D, et al. Update on cryptorchidism: endocrine, environmental and therapeutic aspects. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 Jun;26(6):575-87.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12952375?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Vidaeff AC, Sever LE. In utero exposure to environmental estrogens and male reproductive health: a systematic review of biological and epidemiologic evidence. Reprod Toxicol. 2005 May-Jun;20(1):5-20.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15808781?tool=bestpractice.com 三分之二的病例为单侧隐睾,剩下的为双侧。