During childhood, sperm in the testicles go through a process that results in mature sperm at puberty. Normal testicles form early in a baby boy's growth. They form in the lower belly abdomen , but descend, or "drop," into the scrotum toward the end of pregnancy. Normal testicles attach themselves with stretchable tissue in the bottom of the scrotum. This is controlled by the baby's normal hormones.
In most children with this health issue, it's not known why the testicles fail to drop. It may be because the testicles aren't normal to start with. In other cases, there's a mechanical problem. The testicles drop but miss the scrotum, ending up next to the scrotum instead.
These are called "ectopic testicles. No studies have shown that the problem is caused by something the mother did or ate during pregnancy. Sometimes the testicles drop but don't attach in the scrotum. Then, when the boy grows, it becomes clear that the testicles aren't attached. About 1 of every 5 cases of undescended testicles are found once the boy is no longer a baby.
For this reason, all boys should have the location of their testicles checked during each annual physical exam. A testicle that can't be felt in a physical exam is called "nonpalpable.
It's important to find out whether there is a testicle that hasn't dropped. An undescended testicle left inside the abdomen could form a tumor later in life. Such a tumor might not be noticed until it becomes quite large or causes symptoms. Unfortunately, there's no test, such as an ultrasound, that can definitively show whether a testicle is there.
Surgery is the only way to find out for sure. Risk for testicular cancer. This risk increases greatly by age 30 or Men with undescended tests will need to do monthly testicular self-exams. Inguinal hernia. This is a weakened area in the lower belly wall or inguinal canal where intestines may push through.
Testicular torsion. This is a painful twisting of the testes that can decrease blood supply to the testes. Undescended testes is when one or both of the male testes have not passed down into the scrotal sac. A baby is more at risk if he is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy preterm , or has a family member with the condition. In many cases, the testes descend on their own into the scrotum by 3 month sold. In most cases no treatment is necessary, as the testicles will usually move down into the scrotum naturally during the first 3 to 6 months of life.
The medical term for having 1 or 2 undescended testicles is unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism. Undescended testicles are usually detected during the newborn physical examination carried out soon after birth, or during a routine check-up at 6 to 8 weeks. See your GP if at any point you notice that 1 or both of your child's testicles are not in the normal place within the scrotum.
Undescended testicles aren't painful and your child isn't at risk of any immediate health problems, but they should be monitored by a doctor in case treatment is needed later on.
During pregnancy, the testicles form inside a baby boy's tummy abdomen before slowly moving down into the scrotum about a month or 2 before birth. It's not known exactly why some boys are born with undescended testicles. Most boys with the condition are otherwise completely healthy. Being born prematurely before the 37th week of pregnancy and having a low birth weight and a family history of undescended testicles may increase the chances of a boy being born with the condition.
In around one in ten cases, both testicles are missing from the scrotum bilateral undescended testes. Low birth weight babies also have a higher rate of undescended testicles. Around 17 per cent of male newborns that weigh under 2. The lower the birth weight, the higher the risk; nearly per cent of male babies weighing under g are born with the condition.
The suspected cause is that the spermatic cords, which attach each testicle to the body, fail to grow at the same rate as the rest of the child.
The comparatively short spermatic cords gradually pull the testicles out of the scrotum and into the groin. This condition is known as acquired undescended testicles, or acquired cryptorchidism. It can occur when the boy is aged between one and 10 years. Acquired undescended testis may also occur in boys who were treated for undescended testis at birth. Up to 50 per cent of boys who are treated for undescended testis as a small infant, will develop acquired undescended testis later in childhood.
Undescended testicles are diagnosed at three months of age if the testicle has failed to descend into the scrotum by that time. Undescended testicles are diagnosed by physical examination. In some cases, the missing testicle can be felt in the lower abdomen.
However, this condition can occur later in childhood, up to around 10 years of age. Surgery is the best treatment for undescended testicles. Ideally, the child should be aged between six months and one year at the time of surgery.
Research suggests that future sperm quality in the affected testicle is compromised if the condition is corrected after the child is two years old. However, the operation is still possible at a later age — for example, if the child developed acquired undescended testicles. About 10 per cent of males who undergo surgical correction experience reduced fertility later in life. Surgery to relocate the testicles inside the scrotum is called orchidopexy.
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