Age at which testes descend

Your baby's condition will be monitored. If your baby's testes were in the scrotum at birth, and one or both of them disappears from the scrotum, see your GP. You will be referred to a paediatrician or paediatric surgeon. It is very important that the testes be brought down to the scrotum. For babies born with undescended testes, the testes may come down by themselves in the first three months after birth, and no treatment is needed.

If the testes do not come down by themselves, your child will be monitored, and if they are not down after six months, an operation called an orchidopexy ork-id-o-peck-see is needed.

An orchidopexy brings the testis down into its normal location in the scrotum. Orchidopexy is done under anaesthesia. During surgery, a small cut is made in the groin and the cord is gently stretched to free up the testis.

A second cut is made in the scrotum and the testis is secured inside the scrotum. The cuts are then stitched up. This operation is usually a day procedure and your child should be able to go home on the same day. After your child's surgery, you will be given some post-operative care instructions. Contact your child's surgeon or the hospital if:.

You may need to give your child pain relief — paracetamol is usually enough. See our fact sheet Pain relief for children. Limit your child's activity for the first few days after surgery — the surgeon will advise you of when your child can return to their normal activities. An appointment will be made for your child to see their surgeon after the operation. Regular checks may be needed to make sure the testicle remains in the scrotum.

Your child will need to learn how to do regular testicular self-examination when they become a teenager. Sometimes when I'm changing my baby's nappy I notice that his testicle seems to disappear. Is this undescended testes? From about six months of age, male babies develop a reflex that temporarily pulls the testicles up to protect them if your baby is cold or frightened.

If your baby's testicles are in the scrotum at other times then this is not undescended testes, and your baby won't need surgery. See your GP if you are concerned about your baby's testes.

How likely is it that my son will have reduced fertility when he grows up? About 10 per cent of males who undergo surgical correction experience reduced fertility later in life. This is because the testes do not produce sperm if they are stuck in the groin or abdomen. 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, the testes descend by age 6 months without any treatment. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests.

Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are. If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit. This is considered fairly normal and does not require surgery.

Testicles that do not drop by about one year of age should be examined by a surgeon. It is thought that by three years of age, if the testicles have not dropped, surgery should be done to prevent permanent damage to the testicles. These undescended testicles have a higher likelihood of developing cancer, regardless of whether they are surgically brought down or not.

Bringing the testicle down into the normal spot, the scrotum, maximizes sperm production and increases the odds of good fertility. It also allows for early detection of testicular cancer. In other cases, no testes can be found at all, even on surgical exploration.

This happens before birth. Usually the testicles will descend by age one without any help.