You might have discovered this when a child was born or if the doctors and nurses missed it, you realise it in your child’s toddler years that he does not have testes.
As much as the child would often look fine and may not even be in pain, having undescended testicles is concerning because it has effects that would affect the child’s livelihood in their adult years.
The Mayo Clinic defines undescended testicles, or cryptorchidism, as a condition where one or both testicles in a baby boy have not moved into their proper place in the scrotum.
How does this happen you might ask, the Kids Health publication first explains that a baby boy’s testicles form inside his belly as he grows inside his mother’s womb and soon descend into the scrotum just before birth.
“But in some cases, that move doesn’t happen, and the baby is born with one or both testicles undescended also known as cryptorchidism. The publication states that this condition is mostly found in male babies born prematurely.”
The Healthy Children publication confesses that nobody is certain what causes undescended testicles. Premature birth is said to play a role, but the condition may also be genetic.
“There is a 7.5% chance that the brother of a boy with undescended testicles will have the same condition. The odds rise to 25% if the brother is an identical twin.”
According to WebMD, this condition is believed to be linked to the mother’s health and external influences. This health hub believes that factors contributing to its likelihood include health conditions like Down syndrome, low birth weight, and contact with pesticides.
When it comes to treatment, the above source suggests that if a testicle doesn’t descend within 6 months, surgery is recommended.
The procedure is stated to involve opening the groin or lower belly, moving the testicle, cutting in the scrotum, and stitching it into place.
“Your doctor will likely suggest pain medicine for the first few days. You’ll need to keep the area dry and have your child avoid things that might irritate it, like ride-on toys.”
