BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuUndescended testicleCryptorchidism; Empty scrotum - undescended testes; Scrotum - empty (undescended testes); Monorchism; Vanished testes - undescended; Retractile testesUndescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth. Causes 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.TesticlesThe testes are 2 egg-shaped male reproductive organs located in the scrotum. They produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some babies have a condition called retractile testes and the health care provider may not be able to find the testicles. In this case, the testicle is normal, but is pulled back out of the scrotum by a muscle reflex. This occurs because the testicles are still small before puberty. The testicles will descend normally at puberty and surgery is not needed.ScrotumThe scrotum is a part of a male's body that is located below the penis. The scrotum is the sac (pouch) that contains the testes, epididymis, and the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Testicles that do not naturally descend into the scrotum are considered abnormal. An undescended testicle is more likely to develop cancer, even if it is brought into the scrotum with surgery. Cancer is also more likely in the other testicle.Bringing the testicle into the scrotum can improve sperm production and increase the chances of good fertility. It also allows the provider to do an exam for the early detection of cancer.In other cases, no testicle may be found, even during surgery. This may be due to a problem that occurred while the baby was still developing before birth. Symptoms Most of the time there are no symptoms other than the absence of the testicle in the scrotum. (This is called an empty scrotum.) Exams and Tests An exam by the provider confirms that one or both of the testicles are not in the scrotum.The provider may or may not be able to feel the undescended testicle in the abdominal wall above the scrotum.Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, may be done. Treatment In most cases, the testicle will descend without treatment during the child's first year. If this does not occur, treatment may include:Hormone injections (B-HCG or testosterone) to try to bring the testicle into the scrotum. Surgery (orchiopexy) to bring the testicle into the scrotum. This is the main treatment. Surgery (orchiopexy)Undescended testicle repair is surgery to correct testicles that have not dropped down into the correct position in the scrotum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Having surgery early may prevent damage to the testicles and avoid infertility. An undescended testicle that is found later in life may need to be removed. This is because the testicle is not likely to function well and could pose a risk for cancer. Outlook (Prognosis) Most of the time, the problem goes away without treatment. Medicine or surgery to correct the condition is successful in most cases. Once the condition is corrected, you should have routine testicle exams by your doctor.In about 50% of males with undescended testicles, the testicles cannot be found at the time of surgery. This is called a vanished or absent testis. As stated earlier, it may be due to something while the baby was still developing during pregnancy. Possible Complications Complications may include:Damage to the testicle from surgery Infertility later in life InfertilityInfertility means you cannot get pregnant (conceive). There are 2 types of infertility:Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become preg...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Testicular cancer in one or both testesTesticular cancerTesticular cancer is cancer that starts in the testicles. The testicles are the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your child's provider if he appears to have an undescended testicle.Open ReferencesReferencesBarthold JS, Hagerty JA. Etiology, diagnosis, and management of the undescended testis. In: Partin AW, Domochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.Chung DH. Pediatric surgery. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 67.Elder JS. Disorders and anomalies of the scrotal contents. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 560.Rajpert-De Meyts E, Main KM, Toppari J, Skakkebaek NE. Testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and testicular tumors. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 137.AllVideoImagesTogMale reproductive anatomy - illustration The male reproductive structures include the penis, the scrotum, the testicles (testes), the epididymis, the seminal vesicles, and the prostate.Male reproductive anatomyillustrationMale reproductive system - illustration The male reproductive system, viewed from a sagittal section.Male reproductive systemillustrationMale reproductive anatomy - illustration The male reproductive structures include the penis, the scrotum, the testicles (testes), the epididymis, the seminal vesicles, and the prostate.Male reproductive anatomyillustrationMale reproductive system - illustration The male reproductive system, viewed from a sagittal section.Male reproductive systemillustrationRelated Information Testes(Special Topic)Scrotum(Special Topic)Testicular cancer(Condition) Review Date: 7/26/2021 Reviewed By: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Undescended testicleCryptorchidism; Empty scrotum - undescended testes; Scrotum - empty (undescended testes); Monorchism; Vanished testes - undescended; Retractile testesUndescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth. Causes 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.TesticlesThe testes are 2 egg-shaped male reproductive organs located in the scrotum. They produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some babies have a condition called retractile testes and the health care provider may not be able to find the testicles. In this case, the testicle is normal, but is pulled back out of the scrotum by a muscle reflex. This occurs because the testicles are still small before puberty. The testicles will descend normally at puberty and surgery is not needed.ScrotumThe scrotum is a part of a male's body that is located below the penis. The scrotum is the sac (pouch) that contains the testes, epididymis, and the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Testicles that do not naturally descend into the scrotum are considered abnormal. An undescended testicle is more likely to develop cancer, even if it is brought into the scrotum with surgery. Cancer is also more likely in the other testicle.Bringing the testicle into the scrotum can improve sperm production and increase the chances of good fertility. It also allows the provider to do an exam for the early detection of cancer.In other cases, no testicle may be found, even during surgery. This may be due to a problem that occurred while the baby was still developing before birth. Symptoms Most of the time there are no symptoms other than the absence of the testicle in the scrotum. (This is called an empty scrotum.) Exams and Tests An exam by the provider confirms that one or both of the testicles are not in the scrotum.The provider may or may not be able to feel the undescended testicle in the abdominal wall above the scrotum.Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, may be done. Treatment In most cases, the testicle will descend without treatment during the child's first year. If this does not occur, treatment may include:Hormone injections (B-HCG or testosterone) to try to bring the testicle into the scrotum. Surgery (orchiopexy) to bring the testicle into the scrotum. This is the main treatment. Surgery (orchiopexy)Undescended testicle repair is surgery to correct testicles that have not dropped down into the correct position in the scrotum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Having surgery early may prevent damage to the testicles and avoid infertility. An undescended testicle that is found later in life may need to be removed. This is because the testicle is not likely to function well and could pose a risk for cancer. Outlook (Prognosis) Most of the time, the problem goes away without treatment. Medicine or surgery to correct the condition is successful in most cases. Once the condition is corrected, you should have routine testicle exams by your doctor.In about 50% of males with undescended testicles, the testicles cannot be found at the time of surgery. This is called a vanished or absent testis. As stated earlier, it may be due to something while the baby was still developing during pregnancy. Possible Complications Complications may include:Damage to the testicle from surgery Infertility later in life InfertilityInfertility means you cannot get pregnant (conceive). There are 2 types of infertility:Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become preg...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Testicular cancer in one or both testesTesticular cancerTesticular cancer is cancer that starts in the testicles. The testicles are the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your child's provider if he appears to have an undescended testicle.Open ReferencesReferencesBarthold JS, Hagerty JA. Etiology, diagnosis, and management of the undescended testis. In: Partin AW, Domochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.Chung DH. Pediatric surgery. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 67.Elder JS. Disorders and anomalies of the scrotal contents. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 560.Rajpert-De Meyts E, Main KM, Toppari J, Skakkebaek NE. Testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and testicular tumors. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 137.
