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Undescended Testicles

Undescended testicles are a condition that affects baby boys. The testicles normally move down into the scrotum just before or very soon after birth. An undescended testicle is one that stays up in the abdomen and does not move down into the scrotum.

  1. Causes

    • The exact cause of undescended testicles is unknown, according to the Mayo Clinic. Risk factors include low birth weight, premature birth, genetics, obesity and alcohol or cigarette use by the mother during pregnancy. Mothers with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes carry a higher risk of giving birth to a baby boy with undescended testicles.

    Considerations

    • If not treated, undescended testicles may cause complications later in life. These include fertility problems due to low sperm count and poor quality of sperm. Other concerns include testicular torsion, which is a painful condition that cuts off blood to the testicle causing loss of the testicle, inguinal hernia and a higher risk of testicular cancer.

    Treatment

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common and effective method of treatment is surgery. A surgeon gently moves the testicle into the scrotum and stitches it into place. Other treatments are hormone treatment with injections of human chorionic (HCG) or testicular implants for missing testicles.

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