In some cases, though, one or both testicles fail to descend before birth. This is known as an undescended testicle or what doctors call cryptorchidism. So what should you do? Pediatric urologist Jeffrey Donohoe, MD, discusses five key facts you should know about undescended testicles:.
In that case, your pediatrician likely is able to feel it during a physical exam. Donohoe says it can either be congenital present at birth or acquired the testicle moves up out of the scrotum as your child begins to grow. Ernesto Figueroa, MD.
Urology at Nemours Children's Health. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Undescended Testicles? How Do Undescended Testicles Happen? How Is Cryptorchidism Diagnosed? How Are Undescended Testicles Treated? Treatment is necessary for several reasons: Being up in the body means the undescended testicle is at a higher temperature than usual testicles need to be below regular body temperature to produce sperm.
The higher temperature may harm the testicle's development and its ability to make sperm in the future. This could possibly lead to infertility the inability to father children. We discuss complications, treatments, and explain how to perform a testicular exam at home.
The epididymis is a duct behind the testes. Epididymitis occurs when this duct becomes inflamed, usually as a result of infection. This condition can be a sign of the sexually transmitted infection STI chlamydia. Orchitis happens when an infection causes inflammation in the testicle.
It may occur after a person catches the mumps virus. If an individual experiences testicular pain and suspects that orchitis is the cause, they should see a doctor. This condition can damage the testicles. A cyst is a thin sac filled with fluid. Epididymal cysts may occur when there is excess fluid in the duct. They may also form while the epididymis is developing. These cysts are harmless and usually painless. No treatment is necessary, and they will often go away on their own. If epididymal cysts cause discomfort, however, they can be surgically removed.
While it usually does not require treatment, a hydrocele can indicate inflammation, in which case a person should see a doctor. It usually does not require treatment if there are no additional symptoms, but a varicocele can cause a low sperm count. Testicular torsion occurs when the testicle rotates and the spermatic cord is twisted. This can cause testicular pain that is severe and lasting. If this pain follows an injury, it may subside then suddenly return. Testicular torsion is severe and should be treated as an emergency.
The child is put under general anesthesia for this surgery. Almost always the child can go home the same day and is back to normal within 1 to 2 days. A cut about 1 inch long is made in the groin area most often it can hardly be seen later.
The testicles is freed from all nearby tissues so that it moves easily into the scrotum. Then it is stitched into place. If there's a hernia, it's fixed at the same time. In some cases, the testicle is too high for this simple surgery. If this is the case, more complex methods and sometimes even 2 surgeries are needed. Overall, the success rate with surgery is 98 out of After treatment, the testicle often grows to normal size in the scrotum.
In some cases, the testicle wasn't normal to start with, and never grows the right way. In other cases, sperm never grow, even though the testicle size is normal. In most cases, after treatment for 1 undescended testicle, fertility becomes normal and the chances of fathering a child in the future are high. When the child becomes a teen, he should have routine physical exams and do monthly testicular self-exams.
Routine physicals will look for signs of testicular cancer, which remains a slight risk. About 1 of every 5 cases of undescended testicles are found after the boy is no longer a baby. The testicles of these boys appeared to have dropped normally as babies. If an undescended testicle appears later it is called an "ascending testicle.
Often these boys are known to have a retractile testicle before they are diagnosed with an ascending testicle.
These testicles need surgery to move them into the scrotum. Sperm won't mature if the testicle stays undescended.
0コメント