At what age should testes descend?

At what age should testes descend?

Most of the time, a boy’s testicles descend by the time he is 9 months old. Undescended testicles are common in infants who are born early. The problem occurs less in full-term infants. Some babies have a condition called retractile testes and the health care provider may not be able to find the testicles.

What happens if you have small testes?

When the testicles are smaller than average, but there is no underlying medical condition, there are typically no side effects. Medical conditions that cause small testicles can also produce other signs and symptoms. For example, a varicocele can cause pain and swelling in the scrotum.

Can a man with small testis give birth?

Men with one undescended testicle can still have children, but their fertility is lower than normal by roughly half. If they have surgery to correct it, especially when younger, their fertility is about the same as if they never had a problem.

How do I know if my baby has Testicals descended?

In a baby affected by undescended testicles, one or both of his testicles either appear to be missing or cannot be felt in the scrotum. If both testicles are undescended, the scrotum will look unusually small and flat. If only one testicle is affected, the scrotum may look lopsided.

Can undescended testis be treated?

An undescended testicle is usually corrected with surgery. The surgeon carefully manipulates the testicle into the scrotum and stitches it into place (orchiopexy). This procedure can be done either with a laparoscope or with open surgery.

Does testicle size indicate anything?

Healthy production of testosterone and sperm can occur within a wide range of testicular volume. Some studies have suggested that larger testicles among some mammals are associated with higher testosterone levels , while smaller testicular volume is associated with decreased sperm production .

Why is cryptorchidism a problem?

Cryptorchidism also increases the risk of testicular torsion. This occurs when the spermatic cord becomes twisted. The spermatic cord contains nerves, blood vessels, and tubes that carry semen between each testicle and the penis. If a person does not receive quick treatment, they could lose the twisted testicle.

Is undescended testicle a birth defect?

Sometimes, one testis or both testes fail to descend, which is called undescended testis or undescended testicle. Undescended testicle is a birth defect that occurs in as many as 3% of boys, making it one of the most common birth defects seen. It is more common in premature infants than those born at full term.

Can cryptorchidism be corrected?

Surgery. An undescended testicle is usually corrected with surgery. The surgeon carefully manipulates the testicle into the scrotum and stitches it into place (orchiopexy). This procedure can be done either with a laparoscope or with open surgery.

What happens if cryptorchidism is left untreated?

If not treated promptly, this might result in the loss of the testicle. Testicular torsion occurs 10 times more often in undescended testicles than in normal testicles. Trauma. If a testicle is located in the groin, it might be damaged from pressure against the pubic bone.

What do undescended testes look like?

If both testicles are undescended, the scrotum will look unusually small and flat. If only one testicle is affected, the scrotum may look lopsided. If your baby’s testicle appears to be “sometimes there and sometimes not,” we call that testicle retractile. It’s a normal condition that requires no treatment.

How do you fix cryptorchidism?