So what's the deal?Firstly it's important to mention that the majority of the boys faced with undescended testes were born prematurely or have an underlying condition that dictates the interruption of the descent. It's starts within the mother's womb. When the gender is decided within the fetus (typically at week 9 of pregnancy), motions are set in place in the developing body that give the drastic change between female and male babies. Two testes are formed and are supposed to descend to the scrotum of the boy before birth. However, if they haven't descended at birth, they can do so naturally up until 6 months after birth. Cryptorchidism is usually diagnosed after birth at a checkup, even if a doctor can palpate the testes because it isn't in the correct place yet. If they haven't been felt at all, there is the possibility that they've stayed within the abdomen where they still remain unless treated. The treatment for crytorchidism is most often surgery. Serious effects can happen to a developing boy if the testicles remain outside their place in the scrotum. Below will have a diagram (WARNING: it does picture a drawn penis) of positions of "un-dropped" testicles in a boy. One way that a testicle may be encouraged to descend within a child of specific health (i.e. a genetic condition that effects other parts of the body like growth and hormones) ask about using a growth hormone stimulus test. It is two weeks straight of two/three shots. I had to drive nearly 25 minutes to the hospital every Mon-Wed-Fri to get this test done, and mentally it was draining. But it ramped up his testosterone production, so they knew they were functioning. This may not be an option for all boys with this problem because of other side effects of the growth hormone. Always consult or discuss with a medical professional before proceeding in any treatments. 4% of full-term baby boys are born with cryptorchidism. Why get treated?Surgery is a scary prospect. Of course it is. And any parent objects to unnecessary surgery that compromises the health of their child because of the risk. However, this isn't just a vanity surgery. I don't believe doctors would recommend a surgery on a baby (usually six months to two years) if it wasn't important. To a parent of a seemingly newborn baby, it may feel hard to comprehend the importance of reproductive organs (something they don't want to think about for at least another sixteen years) but testicles within the abdomen for long periods of time can complicate sexual and reproductive health in a boy.
SurgerySurgery for cryptorchidism is called orchiopexy in most cases, which involves two incisions altogether. One on the right and one on the left is made. The instrument is placed in the track and simply slides up until it stumbles upon a testicle, pulls it down to it's correct place and secures it within the scrotum. If it cannot be found, a different surgery must be performed to explore the abdomen and search for the testicle. The doctor Seamus saw did not specialize in the abdomen surgery so after one incision was made that didn't discover anything, they closed him up and just referred him to another doctor. Thankfully they only made one incision instead of two. Luckily, recovery from this surgery is only a week. It's done outpatient, pretty easy and simple. It think it only takes an hour for the entire surgery to be completed, too. 30% of premature baby boys have either one or both undescended. A condition called retractileSome boys may have some seriously jumpy testicles in a condition known as retractile testes. It is a normal condition. This word just means that they can be felt in place, and then be felt raised up a bit higher outside the scrotum. They have moved in to their home in the scrotum, just they sometimes take a vacation outside for a while. No surgery is required for this because it is a very typical occurrence, however an ultrasound may have to be done for a doctor to determine whether it is a undescended testicle or a retractile one.
Learn more about Ohdo Syndrome
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AuthorGabrielle Rae is a special needs, stay at home mommy of two boys. She enjoys reading and writing novels in her spare time. @onbothfrontsArchives
August 2018
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