Undescended testicle

Undescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth.

Also called as Cryptorchidism; Empty scrotum - undescended testes; Scrotum - empty (undescended testes); Monorchism; Vanished testes - undescended; Retractile testes

Causes

Most of the time, a boy’s testicles descend by the time he is 9 months old. Undescended testicles are fairly common in infants who are born early. The problem occurs less often in full-term infants.

Some babies have a condition called retractile testes and the health care provider may not be able find the testicles. In this case, the testicle is normal but is pulled back out of the scrotum by a muscle reflex. This is able to occur because the testicles are still small before puberty. The testicles will descend normally at puberty and surgery is not needed.

Testicles that do not naturally descend into the scrotum are considered abnormal. An undescended testicle is more likely to develop cancer, even if it is brought into the scrotum with surgery. Cancer is also more likely in the other testicle.

Bringing the testicle into the scrotum can improve sperm production and increase the chances of good fertility. It also allows the health care provider to do an exam for the early detection of cancer.

In other cases, no testicle may be found, even during surgery. This may be due to a problem that occurred while the baby was still developing before birth.

Symptoms

Most of the time there are no symptoms other than the absence of the testicle in the scrotum. (This is called an empty scrotum.)

Exams and Tests

An exam by the health care provider confirms that one or both of the testicles are not in the scrotum.

The health care provider may or may not be able to feel the undescended testicle in the abdominal wall above the scrotum.

Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, may be done.

 

Possible Complications

·         Damage to the testicle from surgery Infertility later in life

·         Testicular cancer in both testes

Treatment

In most cases, the testicle will descend without treatment during the child’s first year. If this does not occur, treatment may include:

·         Hormone injections (B-HCG or testosterone) to try to bring the testicle into the scrotum

·         Surgery (orchiopexy) to bring the testicle into the scrotum. This is the main treatment.