Undescended Testes
Undescended testes (also known as cryptorchidism) is a condition where a baby boy's testicles have not moved down into their proper place in the scrotum. If your son has an undescended testicle, surgery may be needed.
Undescended testes often affect boys born prematurely, but the testes often move down on their own. If they don't, it's important to get treatment from a pediatric urologist who understands growing babies and children. That’s because the testicles make and store sperm, so this could affect your son’s fertility or lead to other medical problems later in life.
Learn more about Undescended Testes at the Nemours KidsHealth Library
Undescended testes (also known as cryptorchidism) is a condition where a baby boy's testicles have not moved down into their proper place in the scrotum. If your son has an undescended testicle, surgery may be needed.
Undescended testes often affect boys born prematurely, but the testes often move down on their own. If they don't, it's important to get treatment from a pediatric urologist who understands growing babies and children. That’s because the testicles make and store sperm, so this could affect your son’s fertility or lead to other medical problems later in life.
Learn more about Undescended Testes at the Nemours KidsHealth Library
Services We Offer for Undescended Testes
By the time a baby is one year old, about 1% have an undescended testicle. About 10%–15% have bilateral undescended testes (meaning both testicles are affected). A testicle temporarily drawn into the groin may require no treatment, while a true undescended testis requires surgery. Nemours pediatric urologists will monitor your son until he’s 6 months old.
We offer a variety of diagnostic and treatment services, which may vary depending on the condition or location, including: orchiopexy (a surgery that secures an undescended testicle inside the scrotal sac).
Why Choose Us for Undescended Testes Surgery
If your child needs surgery for undescended testes, our pediatric urologists are board-certified in pediatric urology and highly experienced in urologic surgery for kids, including minimally invasive procedures. Year after year, many are recognized as Best Doctors in America®, as well as "Top Doctors" by local magazines in our regions. We also use medical equipment specially designed with kids in mind.
Services, programs, facilities and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.
Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia
We offer urology care for kids with undescended testes at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware (Wilmington, Del.) and select Nemours Children's Health locations including our advanced, fully equipped pediatric outpatient surgery center at Nemours Children's Health, Deptford.
Central Florida
We offer urology care for kids with undescended testicles at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida (Orlando) and outpatient appointments at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.
Northeast Florida
We offer urology care for kids with undescended testes at Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville and our hospital affiliate, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, with outpatient and follow-up appointments available at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.
Northwest Florida
We offer urology care for kids with undescended testicles at Nemours Children’s Health, Pensacola and our hospital affiliate West Florida Healthcare, with some outpatient appointments available at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.