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OVERVIEW

What is an undescended testicle?

Testicles are part of the male body. They make male hormones and sperm. Usually both testicles are inside the scrotum. While male babies are still growing inside the uterus, their testicles are inside their abdomen. The testicles usually move down into the scrotum just before or just after birth. An undescended testicle is one that did not move down into the scrotum.

Undescended testicles are common in male babies. Up to 30% of boys born early and 3% to 5% of boys born on time have at least one undescended testicle. If your newborn baby has an undescended testicle, it will usually move down on its own in the first few months of life. If this doesn’t happen after 3 or 4 months, it may need to be treated by a healthcare provider.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

How will I know if my baby has an undescended testicle?

Your healthcare provider can tell whether your baby has an undescended testicle by checking the baby’s scrotum. If your healthcare provider can’t feel the testicle inside the scrotum, it’s called a “non‑palpable” testicle. A non‑palpable testicle might be inside the abdomen, too small to feel or not there at all. It’s important to find out which one is the reason. Your healthcare provider may perform an MRI or ultrasound to locate an undescended testicle.

TREATMENT

Why does an undescended testicle have to be treated?

There are several reasons to treat an undescended testicle. First, undescended testicles may not make sperm. Testicles are in the scrotum because the temperature there is cooler than it is inside the body. A cooler temperature helps the testicles make sperm. A man’s ability to make sperm can be lost in early childhood if the testicle doesn’t drop down into the scrotum. A baby boy with an undescended testicle can start to lose the ability to make sperm by 12 months of age. Getting the testicle down into the scrotum early in life can help him have a better chance of having children when he grows up.

Second, an undescended testicle is more likely to develop a tumor. Testicular cancer affects one of every 2,000 men with undescended testicles. This rate of testicular cancer is higher than the rate in men whose testicles have dropped naturally. When the testicle is inside the scrotum, a man can easily feel his testicles to check for a tumor, or be checked by a healthcare provider. This way, any tumor can be found early, when the cancer is easier to cure.

How is an undescended testicle treated?

Treatment for an undescended testicle depends on where it is. Babies who have a testicle that can be felt in the groin (the area where your thigh meets your body) often get an operation called orchiopexy (say: “or-key-oh-peck-see”). Babies who have this operation usually go home the same day. The operation is done through a small cut in the groin. Most babies get better very quickly.

Another treatment is a hormone called hCG. Your healthcare provider might give your child hCG in a shot. HCG helps the testicles make male hormones. A higher level of male hormones might move the testicle down into the scrotum.

If you are an adult with an undescended testicle, moving the testicle to the scrotum probably won’t improve your ability to make sperm. So, in adult men an undescended testicle is usually just removed. If you are an older man with an undescended testicle, your healthcare provider can help you decide what to do.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

• What is the best treatment for my baby?
• Should we wait to treat my baby?
• Are there any side effects of the treatment?
• How long is the recovery period after surgery?
• Will my baby have any problems in the future if treated?
• Will my baby be at higher risk for testicular cancer?
• If I have my testicle removed, will I still be able to produce sperm?

Sources

The Undescended Testicle: Diagnosis and Management by SG Docimo, MD, RI Silver, MD, and W Cromie, MD (11/01/00, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001101/2037.html)