Signs and symptoms
The condition exists if one or both testes do not rest in the scrotum at birth. However, an undescended testis must be distinguished from a migratory or retractile testis. A migrating or retractile testis has completed its descent into the scrotum, but has risen temporarily into the groin. A migratory or retractile testis returns to its normal position as a boy matures, and it needs no correction. If the size of the scrotum is normal, the testis is migrating; if it is small, the testis is undescended. An undescended testis sometimes can be felt in the groin, but it may be mistaken for a hernia or a swollen lymph gland.
Home care
If a testis appears to be missing from the scrotum after birth, check periodically to see if it has descended of its own accord. To check for an undescended testis, place the child in a tub of warm water and pull his knees up toward his chest. If the testis is migratory it will often descend into the scrotum. If the testis is undescended, it will not.
Precautions
• Don’t worry the child by discussing the condition. An undescended testis can usually be corrected.
• Do not postpone correction of an undescended testis. It should be corrected when the boy is between four and seven years old.
• A boy with an undescended testis has an increased chance of an inguinal hernia.
Medical treatment
Your doctor will examine the child’s scrotum and groin carefully and check for the presence of a hernia, which often accompanies an undescended testis. Some doctors give hormone injections to encourage the testis to descend, but most prefer to perform surgery when the child is between the ages of four and seven, and not to use hormones at all.
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Tags: General health