Testicles not descended, male fetus pictures

The mother was horrified when the hospital clinic nurse noticed that Feng Hua's newborn had only one "ball" in his scrotum instead of two, in the case of a boy who had not descended. "I didn't even want to look," she admits. Feng Hua had no worries, because when her child was checked out by his doctor a week later, his testicles were already in place without any interference.

What are undescended male testicles?

When a boy is growing and developing in his mother's womb, his testicles are in his abdomen. During the last two months of pregnancy, the testicles descend all the way into the scrotum. However, in 3% of boys, one (or, increasingly, both) testicles are not fully descended at birth. The chance of premature babies having incompletely descended testicles is much higher, at up to 30%.

Doctors and midwives often check for undescended testicles (also called cryptic testicles) during newborn exams. This is because undescended testicles usually find their way to the right location between 4 and 6 months. However, your doctor may use ultrasound, CT, or MRI to pinpoint the exact location of the testicles. However, this test is not actually necessary. If your baby's testicles are not descended within 4 to 6 months, then it is unlikely that it will move on its own, and this is when correction is needed.

Why does my child need surgery to treat suboptimal male testicles?

The thought of your little one undergoing surgery may be scary, even terrifying - but the key is to get the testicles down. For one thing, your boy's future fertility may depend on it. The testicles, which are on the opposite side of the scrotum from the body, get too hot, so sperm can't grow and develop properly.

What do I need to know about this whole process?

The ideal age for surgical treatment is 6 to 18 months. We hate waiting long periods of time in the year or year and a half because the longer the undescended testicles are, the more it starts to limit its fertility. If undescended testicles are repaired before the age of 2, the risk of fertility problems is less.

Depending on the location of the male testicles, the surgical procedure can take a relatively long time, ranging from one to two hours. (In some cases, men with testicles in the abdomen may have a two-part procedure.) The surgical procedure is generally uncomplicated, with one or two small incisions in the groin or scrotum. In cases where the male testicles are higher up, laparoscopy can be used.

Recovery is usually rapid. Within a day or two, most children will be back to normal activities, will not cry, and will not show other signs of pain. 80% to 90% of children recover so quickly that they don't even know they had surgery. Generally, the younger the child, the easier it is to recover.