Testicular cancer is more common in men who have a testicle which has failed to descend. In the unborn child the testicles develop inside the abdomen between the kidneys and descend into the scrotum at birth or during the first year of life. If they move down later, or need surgery to bring them down, this increases the risk of testicular cancer. A particular gene has been found in many men with testicular cancer. It is possible that this gene is inherited and may be the reason why testicular cancer sometimes occurs in brothers or sons of men who have had the disease.
Testicular cancer is more common in white people than black people.
It occurs more commonly in wealthier social groups. The reasons for this are not known. No link between injury or sporting strains and testicular cancer has been found. There is no evidence that hot baths can cause testicular cancer, although these are commonly thought to be causes. Vasectomy does not increase the risk of a man developing testicular cancer.