An undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) is when a boy's testicle does not move down into the scrotum. Testicles develop inside the abdomen before birth. They move down into the scrotum just before or after birth.
It is not always known why this happens. It is thought to be a problem with the way the testicles develop.
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
The main symptom is not being able to see or feel the testicle.
You will be asked about your child's symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the testicles. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.
Images may need to be taken to locate the testicle. This can be done with ultrasound or laparoscopy.
Treatment is needed to avoid problems, such as infertility and testicular cancer.
Choices are:
There are no current guidelines to prevent this problem.
Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.healthychildren.org
National Infertility Association
http://www.resolve.org
Cryptorchidism. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/cryptorchidism. Accessed December 10, 2020.
Tekgul S, Dogan HS, et al; European Society for Paediatric Urology and European Association of Urology (ESPU/EAU). Guidelines on paediatric urology. EAU 2017 Mar.
Undescended testicles. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/undescended-testicles.html. Accessed December 10, 2020.
Undescended testicles. Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/genitourinary-tract/Pages/Undescended-Testicles.aspx. Accessed December 10, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Chelsea Skucek, MSN, BS, RNC-NIC Last Updated: 6/4/2021