Undescended Testes

Mirna - posted on 06/28/2012

hi i been reading your post. i am just scare as never before. i have an 11 year old boy and his dr. just told me he has undescended testicles..i took him already for a sonogram and it seems both are in the abdominal area...i don't know what to think. i been reading deferent stories and i am just scare.

Stacy - posted on 01/30/2010

My son had surgery for this as well, but not til he was 9. I think that if it were done soon, noticed sooner it would have been easier on him. He couldn't sit, or take baths, soaking the stiches could've caused them to tare, or infections. He is 11 now, and doing fine. He has a scar above the fure hair line, and one on his sack.
Scary yes, but not as bad as it seems. As a parent, we don't want to see our children go threw any discomfert, but it will be better for him. My sons doctor said that this not being noticed sooner may of lowered his chances of being a daddy, and that to me is scarier than the surgery.

Jennifer - posted on 01/30/2010

My son did have to have the surgery as his was just below his stomach. It was scary, and I hated that he had to have surgery so young, but the doctor was amazing and my little guy barely seemed fazed by it all, we had to keep him from jumping around the next day. Hopefully you get good results from the ultrasound, but if you do have to go through the surgery, I just thought you'd like to hear that they just seem to take it all in stride and it is worse on us than on them :-)

Carrie - posted on 01/30/2010

HI there Samantha. I understand your feelings. The day my son was born, they told me about the fact that one of his testicles was not descended. (not only that, but he was born with a double hernia! They took care of that at the same time) It was torture for him at each well visit, with the doctors "digging" around to try to feel them. They did, in fact, feel his, so they knew that they were "up there somewhere". He had the surgery at 8 months of age (he was very big for his age, as they usually wait for 1 year), and everything went well. The surgery part was very scary, and even scarier when they brought him back in a stupor from the drugs! Tell you, though, he was up and (literally) running in a couple of hours, and there were NO residual effects...absolutely none. He is now 14 years old, and, all seems normal, although his "body parts" have not hit their growth spurt yet, so can't speak for how things look now! lol! Don't worry. Apparently it is more common then you think. Best of luck...

Ericka - posted on 01/30/2010

Hi Samantha, just to let u know about my son. Both his testes were in his abdomen and he needed surgery. On the morning of the op I was so scared and I cried when he was brought down, basically I was a mess. He, on the otherhand, loved the attention he got at the hospital and had no problem with the op. He was 2 at the time, it was about 6mths ago and now his liitle scars are healing and he's fine. So if you're baby does need an op dont worry about it too much, its so much easier for them than it is for us! Good luck.

Samantha - posted on 01/29/2010

Hi everyone! Just an update. We have the results of the ultrasound and my sons testicles are actually in his scrotal sac just up a little higher than usual and they are at the right temperature. That is great news because I was afraid they would be in his abdomen. We are going to wait for 6 months to see if they descend on their own and if not we may have the surgery to bring them down. :-D Thank you for your input xx

Sherryl - posted on 01/24/2010

I had seven children--four daughters and three sons. My youngest son was born with one undescended testicle, the doctor was able to move it manually into position but it eventually stayed up. The only thing that was a problem is that the testicle could become cancerous. He had checkups over the years and eventually the testicle did descend but it is none functioning. So, the major concern is cancer. I would rely on the expertise of a specialist not the advice of well meaning family and friends. Get more than one opinion if it helps you to decide what to do BUT take good advice and follow it. I would not risk my son's health because I feared surgery at a young age.

Wanda - posted on 01/22/2010

My son just had surgery to have his one testicle pulled into place (the other was where it should be). At the time he was 21 months. We'd known for some time that the testicle wasn't descended and he was being monitored to see if it would descend on it's own. The decision was made to do it when they did because it hadn't moved. Our surgeon told us that this surgery is usually done after a boys 2 b-day but before their 3rd. The sooner it's done the better because they heal so much faster when they're younger.

The outcome: It was day surgery. When we got home that night our little guy was climbing over furniture and acting like nothing happened.

Samantha - posted on 01/22/2010

thank you so much. I will definitely get a second opinion if the doctor wants to wait. It makes me feel uneasy to just wait and see what happens. xxx

Cookie - posted on 01/22/2010

First let me say I am a nurse who has worked in a level 1 trauma center in the ER and taken care of many children. Here is my take on your problem.

Undescended testicles happens in about 4% of full term births and 30% of premature births. Half of infants with undescended testicles descend on their own by 6 months of age. If they do not descend by then the boy SHOULD be evaluated by a pediatric specialist. Surgery is the usual treatment and should be done before a year old.

Testicles that remain uncorrected may be damaged which can AFFECT FERTILITY later in life or can lead to other medical problems like TESTICULAR CANCER. If your doctor wants to wait I would definitely seek another opinion preferably in a major hospital in a big city, especially if you live in a small town. If your child has surgery in a large hospital that is equipped for children it will be safe.

Samantha - posted on 01/21/2010

Thank you everyone for your input, it's been very helpful and comforting. We had the ultrasound today and while his testes are there (I had hoped they were there!!! lol) they are up a little high. The specialist didn't seem too concerned at this stage and even said they may drop down on their own, but we have another appointment next week to see where we go from there. My mind is at ease a little bit but I guess we always think of the worst outcome. xxxxx

Melanie - posted on 01/21/2010

Hi Samantha. One of our sons had this problem. We noticed very early on as well. Both of his testicles were up high in his body. However, our Dr. gave the testicles 3 years to descend. They didn't and he had surgery when he was 3 1/2. I agree with the other ladies about having surgery at a young age because of a quick recovery. However, if his testicles do not decend and he does not have the surgery there is a big chance he will be infertile. See, the testicles are suppose to be down in the sac because of body temperature. Down where they belong is the perfect temp for the testes. Up in the body it is too warm of an evironment. I know that the thought of surgery for your little guy is scary. But, you have to think of what will be better for him. Get a second or even 3rd opinion if you want. Interview the doctor you want to perform the surgery. If you dont have a doctor you trust, find another one. We were also told by his surgeon after the surgery that there is a small increased chance of testicular cancer when he gets older. So, at about age 15 he is to start giving himself a self exam kinda like we do self breast exams but only down around his testicles. I don not say that to scare you, only to inform you and arm you with knowlege. My son's surgery went very well. His recovery was great. He is now 5 1/2 yrs old. He doesnt remember the surgery itself. We talk about it every now and then, but he doesnt even remember being in the hospital. It was out patient. I hope all goes well. Let me know if you have any more questions. =0)

Jodie - posted on 01/21/2010

i got told that some males dont get them untill there 3 and then need surgery i dont know how right this is but i hope it helps x

Hayley - posted on 01/21/2010

im going through the same thing at the minute with my son. his right one is fine but they discovered that his left one was too high at birth. i was told to leave it as it would probably come down on its own. at around 6 months when i did the monthly check i couldnt find it at all so i took him to the doctor. the doctor couldnt find it either but said his right one is still perfectly fine. my son is 8months now and it still hasnt decsended. he has an appointment with the specialist next month to decide if its needs operating on. they said if it does it wont be until he is at least 15months old cos of not knowing how he will react to the annesthetic. if he needs it doing then i will go ahead with it, its better to do it at a young age where you dont have to go through all the explaination as to whats going to happen with him. its just a waiting game at the minute. but try to keep your chin i know its a horrible decision to have to make and its a scary time but im sure whatever happens your son will be fine

Emilie - posted on 01/21/2010

My son had bilateral inguinal hernias (basically the muscle wall of the abdomen doesn't close like it should). He had surgery for it at about 1 year of age. It is a short procedure - maybe even outpatient? My son had to check in to the hospital due to other health issues. Anyway, it is good to catch it now because letting it continue could cause complications including infertility later.

Joy - posted on 01/21/2010

Yes, I've got two boys and two girls, and my very first born, at the age of two had oneside that was not descended into the sac. I had an excellent pediatrician whom I trusted completed and the man worked a good 20 minutes or so to actually see if he could get it to come down. He told me we would have to undergo surgery if they hadn't descended within 6 months.

Fortunately, as uncomfortable as it was, he did get the right teste to come down, and my little guy didn't have to have the surgery, but, I agree, that if they have to have it, have it done as early as possible. It will also be easier for you to keep it clean and from getting infected a this younger age. I'd also suggest researching the surgery on your own to learn more about it and it never hurts to get a second opinion!

Many blessings, Joy

Tracie - posted on 01/21/2010

Hun, if they have to do the surgery, let them do it now. My son was born with bilateral inguinal hernia's and a hydrocele (fluid on the left testicle, more or less). They preformed surgery at 5 weeks old. Small children don't feel the pain like adults do. Their memory is much shorter thus they feel less and heal quicker. Keep us posted on the results..... I wish you the best of luck.

P.S. I am wondering why the doctor didn't notice it at his 9 month checkup....

Mary - posted on 01/21/2010

at my older sons pre school check up we had a scare but it turned out he can and does PULL them in when nervose had the ultra sound looked fine. trust your Dr. its scary but they can help.