Testicles are male sex organs that make and store sperm. Before a boy is born, his testicles normally drop into the scrotum. The scrotum is the sac that hangs below the penis. When a testicle doesn't drop before birth, it's called an undescended testicle. This means it is still in the belly. Doctors don't understand why some testicles do not descend.
Your doctor will check your child's scrotum at each visit. He or she will likely advise a wait-and-see approach at first. In most children, a testicle that hasn't dropped will move into the scrotum by the age of 3 months. In some cases, surgery is needed to move the testicle into place.
Treatment is important. This condition makes it more likely that your son may not be able to father a child later in life. It also increases the chance of having cancer of the testicles.
An undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) is one that remains inside the body and has not moved down into the scrotum. Normally the testicles, which form inside the abdomen of a male fetus, descend into the sac beneath the penis (scrotum) by the time the baby is born.
One or both testicles may be affected. In most cases, the testicle will descend without treatment by the time the baby is 3 months old. If this does not happen, a doctor may advise surgery—laparoscopy or orchiopexy—to move the testicle into the scrotum.
A male who has undescended testicles has an increased risk of testicular torsion, hernia formation, infertility, and testicular cancer.
An undescended testicle doesn't cause pain or other symptoms. The scrotum may look a little smoother or less developed on one side, or the side without a testicle may look smaller and flatter. You can't feel the testicle in the scrotum on the side where it hasn't descended.
Usually doctors recommend a wait-and-see approach for newborns. If the testicle hasn't dropped on its own within 6 months, your doctor may recommend surgery (orchiopexy or orchidopexy). Surgery is usually recommended by the time the baby is 18 months old. It is safe and effective and has few risks. Most babies recover quickly.
When babies have a testicle that can't be felt, doctors may do a different surgery that needs only a small cut (laparoscopy).
Doctors usually find an undescended testicle during a newborn exam. The doctor will check your baby again at age 3 months and 6 months. If the testicle hasn't dropped or can't be felt, a surgery called laparoscopy may be needed. A blood hormone test may be done if both testicles aren't in the scrotum.
Doctors don't really know what causes an undescended testicle. This common condition runs in some families (can be inherited).
As a baby boy grows inside his mother, he develops testicles. Early in his development, his testicles are in his belly. Normally, before he is born, his testicles move down into his scrotum, the sac that hangs below the penis. When one testicle does not move into the scrotum as it should, the baby has an undescended testicle. In rare cases, both testicles are undescended.
It is most common in baby boys who were born before their due date or who were very small at birth.
Most of the time, the testicle descends (drops) on its own by the time the baby is 3 months old. If your baby's testicle hasn't dropped by the time he is 6 months of age, your doctor may suggest treatment.
Treatment is important because having an undescended testicle increases the risk of:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if your child has any problems.
©2011-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated