Testicles Not Descending in 5 Year Old Confusion

Updated on April 07, 2011
A.G. asks from Elgin, IL
7 answers

Hello Ladies,
We went for an ultrasound this morning and it was confirmed that my son's testicles are just sitting high up there where they are not supposed to be at. I used to check him when he comes out of the tub and usually I find one testicle being down and I think one day I could locate them both in the scrotum.
So today his doc calls me with the results and says he needs surgery right away.
For one I am not big at all on surgeries and medications and secondly I am thinking, what is the 'cut off date' for these testicles? Is there a chance they still come down by themselves?
I am really not in favor of rushing into a surgery with anasthesia. Yes, if absolutetly necessary I sure will, but I am more the alternative medicine type.
So, if there are some likeminded Mom's out there, I'd like to hear about your experiences.
Have a great day.

PS.: Thanks ladies, I forgot to mention that my other son had the same problems and at his last 6 year check up in November one of the testicles was not descended. They are both down now and everything is fine without surgery.

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So What Happened?

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""UPDATE""""""""""""""""""""""
Surgery did not resonate with me at all. Therefore I contacted a Reiki community to assist on this matter and send Reiki to the situation.
For such reiki requests, I do allow at least 21 days for the wished changes to present itself. On most occasions since I wrote the post, the testicles were both down after being in the tub.
BOTH testicles have now descended and are were they are supposed to be.... thanks to Reiki Practioners not surgeons!
I hope this post and update helps Mom's in similar situations, to be patient and look for an alternative solution first.
I am excited to report these great news!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

1) he is not in pain
2) we were at the doc's office just for the annual check up, my kids are hardly sick, so we mostly only go once a year.
3) true
4) yes I am gathering as much info as I can, even from a doc in Turkey in Germany. S yes I am on it :-)
5) that is where I am not confident that docs knwo the outcome. E.g. I had a c-scetion and nobody ever told me how that would affect my back and so on. Once you are done with the surgery no doctor really admits to or finds out about long term issues.
I called the surgeant yesterday and his office said they do not do this surgery with local anesthesia, they will put him under.
I have now asked Reiki practioners to assist on this matter. I will update in about a months or so with what happened or not happened.
Thank you!

More Answers

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

When the doctor says 'lets go now', you go. I'm all for being cautious but this could affect your son's fertility, sex life, etc. I wouldn't be willing to risk that.

6 moms found this helpful

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

I asnwered your last post. Your child needs surgery. There is nothing YOU can do to bring his testicles down. I am actually surprised your doctor waited so long...mine was quite adament that it needed to happen right around when he turned one. It's not a huge surgery and should be done within about an hour or two and you will be home the same day.
L.

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Well, the problem with leaving things alone is if they do not descend, he'll end up infertile.
Here's what I found:
"In about half of the babies, the undescended testicles move down or descend on their own by the sixth month of life. If spontaneous descent doesn't happen by then, it's important to get treatment because testicles that remain undescended may be damaged, which could affect fertility later or lead to other medical problems.".
Tesicles can be damaged by his own body s heat.
That's why they need to hang in a cooler location - his scrotum.
So I'm really confused why this hasn't been addressed when he was 6 Months old and left till he was 5 Years old.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

I would probably wait, especially if your other son had the same issue and his are down now.

Try asking this on more alternative/natural forums and see what kind of advice you get there before you decide. I think there is a lot to be said for going with your gut/instincts on this too, like most things.

http://www.healingwiseforum.com/
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/

Those are two good forums to ask for opinions/advice and to hear other stories.

As for the mothers who say to jump when a doctor says jump.... wow, that scares me. I would never put my child in surgery unless it was life-threatening without first thinking over and researching all of my options. I know firsthand that doctors are NOT gods, like some people seem to believe in our culture. I have had many doctors prescribe very dangerous medicines for myself and my daughter that THANK GOODNESS I had the common sense to come home and research before putting them in our bodies and doing real harm.

Knowledge, as you know, is power. You're the mama and it's ultimately your decision, no one else's.

;)
M.

2 moms found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

This happened to my nephew, he was about 4-4.5 and yes, I think you need the surgery. I am all for alternative treatments when western medicine isn't working but in this case, I just don't think that's the route to go. I can only imagine how hard it would be to send your little one into an operating room, but I really do think you need to follow your doctor's lead on this one. Ask him if maybe there are any other parents you can talk to who had the same procedure There are HIPA laws but if the doc or nurse calls them first and asks their permission they can speak to you if they agree.

2 moms found this helpful
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E.F.

answers from Chicago on

I haven't experienced this with my three sons, and I actually have been ignorant to check them for this issue. Obviously that's why their pediatrician does at the visits.
1) is he in pain
2) what prompted this visit? A pediatrician check up and referral? or you just calling because you "noticed it."
3) We don't do what our children want, but they do learn how to trust adults, by the parents talking to them, age appropriately when you've arrived at a decision.
4) ask for support groups, or a forum of real moms and dads with this experience
5) get a second opinion and with both docs, ask them the % of surgeries they've done on children this age, why, what the outcome is, what % has experienced longterm issues.

one last thing to keep in mind, surgery means to cut, which means scar tissue. what are the longterm effects of scartissue within that area? sometimes scar tissue (csection experiences) can create pain as well.

lastly, for some, they can do a "local" anesthesia (think, vasectomy, with a twilight sort of state, for the child--although if they DO that route, do NOT permit them to discharge your child until he is completely alert, and able to eat and walk without looking like he's doped...)

good luck! for nuts sake. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

You need the surgery.
He will be fine.
My daughter at 7 years old, had a surgery for an Inguinal Hernia.
Under general anesthesia. They have a Pediatric Anesthesiologist... and a TEAM of Doctors plus the Surgeon. It was fine. She was fine.
She said she was even glad to have the surgery, because now she does not have to worry, about her body.
Her surgery was Laparoscopic.

We had no choice, but to have the surgery for her.
There would have been complications and it could have affected her ovaries.

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