N.H. asks from New Haven, CT on August 15, 2011
My 12 y.o. Was Diagnosed with Undesended Testicles
my 12 y.o. went for his well visit this year to a new dr and I was told that both his tesicles never came down (undeseded testicles) and we were referred to a urologist. When he was a baby the dr told me every year that yes he had this condition but that it should rectify itself, well now at 12 it has not and now we are looking forward to the possibility of surgery, I am very upset that his primary care dr had not referred me to a urologist sooner and that quite possibly this could affect my sons fertility in the future also puts him at a greater risk for testicular cancer and there is also a possibilty that his testicles are no longer functioning. I am extremely worried and upset with this, has anyone know or have known someone that had this condition and had surgery when they were older children ? all i find is that usually younger kids have the surgery. any information on this would be appreciated thanks in advance
More Answers
J.B. answers from Louisville on August 15, 2011
My son was referred to a urologist about the same age for the same reason. His primary care doctor was incorrect and the urologist said that he was fine, but for some reason it was difficult to examine him. The visit to the urologist is a great idea!
4 moms found this helpful
J.C. answers from Philadelphia on August 15, 2011
I just looked it up and until a urologist says his testicles are undescended I would try not to worry. I just read that some boys are tighter and they drop once puberty starts. I definitely think your son needs to see a urologist but hopefully the new pediatrician was wrong in their assessment. My brother was told he had a hernia and when he went to the surgeon he was was told he did not have a hernia so he obviously did not need surgery after all.
2 moms found this helpful
M.L. answers from Houston on August 15, 2011
He is 12, when was the last time he was checked for this or asked about it, as an infant, did you ever seek a second opinion? I only wonder how so many years passed by without it being diagnosed. What I found, was that if the testes are no longer there, it could be from the time frame of not having an earlier procedure done, or it simply could mean they weren't there to begin with. But, only about 5% have it totally vanished by the time of surgery in adults. (from here):
http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/undescended-testicl...
As for the infertility and testicular cancer issues, I only wish you all the best of luck and am glad you have a great Dr. now who is going to be proactive on this. There are also hormone shots that could help it move down, I suppose it depends on his age.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/men/reproduc...
1 mom found this helpful
A.K. answers from Houston on August 15, 2011
My son was 5 when he had his surgery, his testicle that was undescended, was twisted, malformed, and dead - they had to remove it - I cannot believe that at 12, nobody has noticed this before now.
Mine was noted to me when my baby was born, and whenever I changed his diaper, I could see, he only had one testicle.
After 12 years, there could be a very real possibility, that his testicles have been damaged by the high temperature inside the abdomen.
1 mom found this helpful
S.A. answers from Chicago on August 15, 2011
So sorry to hear about this. I have only heard about younger kids having to have this done. Your previous pediatrician should have moved on this long ago. Hopefully everything will be alright. Best wishes!
H.G. answers from Dallas on August 15, 2011
My cousin is 15 and he still has one undescended testicle but his doc said he is fine and it doesn't effect his fertility? Get a second opinion mama.
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