Undescended Testicle

What is Undescended Testicle

A male baby's testicles develop inside the abdomen before birth. Usually they descend to their permanent place inside the scrotum a month before the birth. However, in some cases, one or both testicles do not complete this descent (fail to drop), leading to an undescended testicle. Usually, only one testis fails to descend.

This condition is more common in premature babies, as they may be born before the testicles would normally descend.

In babies that are not premature, it is unknown why some are born with an undescended testicle.

What are the Symptoms of Undescended Testicle

Other than the absence of one or both testicles from the scrotum, there are no symptoms. There is no pain associated with an undescended testicle.

Traditional Medical Treatments for Undescended Testicle

An undescended testicle is lowered into the scrotum in a surgical procedure known as orchidopexy.

There are two main reasons why this condition must be treated. The first is infertility. Studies have shown that there is an increased risk of infertility in men who have a history of undescended testicles. This risk increases if both testicles are undescended.

The second reason is testicular cancer. If the testicle has not made it to the scrotum, it is not accessible to physical examination. A person with testicular cancer has a much better chance of recovery if the cancer is detected early. For this reason, regular physical examinations, by either the man or his doctor, are extremely important. If a man is unable to check himself, cancer may go undetected.

As well as these two reasons it is also important to take into account the embarrassment a man may feel if he has an undescended testicle. This is another reason why this condition should be corrected.