How to Check a Baby's Testicles
While a baby boy grows in the uterus, his testicles are located inside his abdomen. Just before birth, in most cases, the testicles descend into the scrotum. It is estimated by the American Academy of Pediatrics that about one in 30 baby boys has an "undescended" testicle (also known as cryptorchidism) that has not moved into the scrotum 23. This is most common in boys born prematurely. While most undescended testicles drop down on their own by the time the baby is 3 or 4 months old, in some cases, medical intervention is necessary to move the testicle into place 123. Most baby boys will have their testicles checked at every checkup with the pediatrician.
Lift the baby’s legs gently, similar to when you are changing his diaper. Feel the scrotum using your fingers. You should be able to feel the testicles if they have descended; they will feel like small marbles inside the scrotum.
Press gently on the groin area. Determine if one or both testicles can be felt in the baby’s scrotum. In some cases, you will be able to feel the undescended testicle in the baby’s groin area 23.
Wait 3 to 6 months, if the testicle is not able to be felt in a newborn. In some cases, the testicle will move into place on its own during that time.
Arrange for an X-ray or ultrasound to locate the undescended testicle(s) if it has not moved on its own or it can not be located manually 23. If necessary, laparascopic surgery will be performed if the testicle has not descended by 9–15 months of age.
Tips
In some cases, physicians will prescribe hormone therapy to try to get the undescended testicle to drop on its own.
In rare cases, if testicles can not be found either by hand or through diagnostic imaging, a physician will order blood hormone tests to determine if the testicles are present at all.
Warnings
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an undescended testicle should not be left untreated. If the testicle is left in place for more than two years, it can lead to infertility and an increased risk of testicular cancer later in life.
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- Cohen, T., Orchiopexy What the Anesthesiologist Should Know before the Operative Procedure. Clinical Pain Advisor.
- Cooper, C.S., MD, Docimo, S.G., MD. Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism) in Children: Clinical Features and Evaluation.
- Hrivatakis, G., Astfalk, W., Schmidt, A., Hartwig, A., Kugler, T., Heim, T., Clausner, A., Frunder, A., Weber, H., Loff, S., Fuchs, J., … Ellerkamp, V. The timing of surgery for undescended testis - a retrospective multicenter analysis. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 111(39), 649-57. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0649
- Kurz, D. MD. (2016). Current Management of Undescended Testes. Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics 2(1): 43–51. doi:10.1007/s40746-016-0039-7
- UMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg Staff. Undescended Testicle (Orchiopexy) Repair Surgery. UMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg.
An adjunct instructor at Central Maine Community College, Kristen Hamlin is also a freelance writer on topics including lifestyle, education, and business. She is the author of Graduate! Everything You Need to Succeed After College (Capital Books), and her work has appeared in Lewiston Auburn Magazine, Young Money, USA Today and a variety of online outlets. She has a B.A. in Communication from Stonehill College, and a Master of Liberal Studies in Creative Writing from the University of Denver.
- baby boy reaching for a toy image by Maciej Zatonski from Fotolia.com
