Page 129 - Urological Health

Undescended testis

Dr. Luis Guerra and Dr. Michael Leonard
University of Ottawa, Dept of Surgery - Pediatric Urology, CHEO, Ottawa, ON, Canada

What is an undescended testis?

In an unborn baby boy, the testicles normally form inside the abdominal cavity and gradually descend
through the groin into the scrotal sac by the time the baby is born. An undescended testis is one which
has not completed this normal process of descent by the time of birth. Because of this, a testicle may
be located in the abdominal cavity where it cannot be felt by the examining doctor (which means it is
non-palpable); it can also be in the groin where it can be felt by the examining doctor (which means
palpable).

How do undescended testes present?
UNDER REVIEW
All newborn babies have a full physical exam by a healthcare professional before going home. If the
baby has an undescended testis, it may be found at this early stage. It may also be found by your child’s
family doctor during a routine checkup. Of course, it’s also possible that if you don’t see a testis in the
scrotal sac during your child’s diaper changes or bath, you can bring it up with the doctor as well.

How common is an undescended testis?

Since testicular descent occurs while the baby is developing, 30% of premature infants may have an
undescended testis. At full term, about 4% of baby boys will have an undescended testicle. At one year
old, only 1% of boys continue to have an undescended testis. Many of these testicles will descend
within the first few months of life.

What happens if an undescended testis is not treated?

There are some concerns with leaving a testicle outside of the scrotal sac. Undescended testicles are
more likely to develop testicular cancer than normal testicles; this risk can be reduced by bringing
them into the scrotum before puberty. A testicle outside of the scrotal sac for a long time will be less
likely to produce sperm, and may lead to infertility. To maximize fertility potential, the testis should
be in the scrotal sac by the time the boy is 18 months old. Also, undescended testicles are more prone
to damage or trauma when located in the groin. Finally, there is the cosmetic concern as your child
ages that there is no testicle in the scrotal sac. This may cause embarrassment in the locker room or
when they become sexually active.

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