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AIBU?

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Original poster

That the HV checked DS’s balls had dropped at 1 year check?

63 replies

Hairdryerbouncer · 04/08/2022 21:52

DS 3 was a lockdown baby so we never had a year check in person, it was just over the phone. But I’m sure I don’t remember DS 1& 2 being checked over to ( e.g. squeezed and poked) see if their balls had descended in their one year check?
The HV seemed like a lovely lady, but I have come away from the appointment just wondering if that was really necessary and if it is, is it at this check up?
Quite willing to be told it’s a normal part of the one year check ( tbh- am hoping to be told it is a normal part of the one year check), but I’m convinced that it didn’t happen to the other two lads…..hoping I just have a shit memory ( which I do!)

OP posts:
Featuredcreature · 04/08/2022 22:19

I have 2 sons and don't remember any poking or looking at balls at all Confused surely you would notice anyway when changing nappies?

sweeneytoddsrazor · 04/08/2022 22:22

It must be normal at some point because my son had an operation to drop his down, I clearly remember the hv shining a light on the sac and saying it was full of fluid not testicle if that makes sense. However I think this may have been a preschool check because I also remember him coming home and trying to ride his bike the next day when he was supposed to be taking it easy and not do anything sporty fir a few days so as to allow his stitches to heal

pleaseletmesmile · 04/08/2022 22:24

My brother had an undescended testicle as a baby (back in the 80's) and unfortunately succumbed to testicular cancer at 29 years old. Thankfully it was discovered early and treated with chemotherapy, but he lost his testicle. It was an awful time for him but he has gone on to have a family with IVF. There is research to say that boys with undescended testicles are at a higher risk of testicular cancer. I would be very grateful to any health practitioners who check your child for this.........prevention is better than cure.

Original poster
Hairdryerbouncer · 04/08/2022 22:30

pleaseletmesmile · 04/08/2022 22:24

My brother had an undescended testicle as a baby (back in the 80's) and unfortunately succumbed to testicular cancer at 29 years old. Thankfully it was discovered early and treated with chemotherapy, but he lost his testicle. It was an awful time for him but he has gone on to have a family with IVF. There is research to say that boys with undescended testicles are at a higher risk of testicular cancer. I would be very grateful to any health practitioners who check your child for this.........prevention is better than cure.

I’m sorry to hear about your brother’s experiences.

to be clear, I am grateful he’s been checked and I understand the importance but what I was confused about was that this check appeared in the one year check, which it hadnt before in my experiences

OP posts:
LunaTheCat · 04/08/2022 22:31

Yep, it’s normal part healthcare check.
The health professional was aware that an undescended testis is at significantly more risk of developing a cancer. She was probably also
aware that it may have not been checked as he was born over lockdown - it may have been re-infforced to her to do any check that may have been missed.

Seywot · 04/08/2022 22:32

There's health visitors and then there's child practitioners. H/V have at least 3 years nurse training and then another 2 years of specialised training in child's health.
But you as their mum are the most experienced person to decide what's best for your child.

Now is a great time to advocate for your children. If you do not want a stranger, regardless of their qualification to do a physical examination on your child no is a perfectly reasonable answer if they asked your consent. If they didn't, I would question that.

Your child needs to feel safe at all times and if you are unsure if this is what is a standard assessment, you can always say that you're arranging an assessment with the GP surgery and decline their offer.

They aren't just checking for teste decending, it is likely that any bruise etc is also noted on their body map. They have chosen not to do their face to face job for over two years and many children have been put at risk because of this.

hayu19 · 04/08/2022 22:36

My son didn't have the check after birth but was checked later on by HV and had a undecended testicle so had an operation to bring it down as otherwise it would have affected his fertility later on in life, they like to do the op as early as possible to prevent fertility issues.

pleaseletmesmile · 04/08/2022 22:36

It is a minefield with our children's health and it shows what a caring mother you are by questioning this. ❤

FixTheBone · 04/08/2022 22:37

www.nhs.uk/conditions/undescended-testicles/

Curioushorse · 04/08/2022 22:38

My youngest missed this check due to lockdown. Luckily the problem was picked up by his nursery and he has had the operation. So I can confirm it is important.

It was done with my eldest. It is a quick feel of the testicles.

TonTonMacoute · 04/08/2022 22:48

Featuredcreature · 04/08/2022 22:19

I have 2 sons and don't remember any poking or looking at balls at all Confused surely you would notice anyway when changing nappies?

The majority of us parents probably would, but there are those who might not!

If there is a problem it's better it's spotted asap.

Wetblanket78 · 04/08/2022 22:53

I remember my son's being checked twice by HV. She came to check on a different day but still the same. She referred to lead at our GP he just said they're just a bit late coming down. Well he's 20 now and they still haven't dropped. He's severely autistic so unlikely chance he'll have any children.

Piglet89 · 04/08/2022 23:00

Well, OP: our son didn’t even get a one year check from a HV. However, luckily my husband did those checks himself every time he bathed him. Otherwise we would never have spotted that one our son’s testicles was only partially and inconsistency descended.

Our son will be 3 later this month. He needed surgery to correct it in the end (which he had at the end of June) but if it’d been up to me I’m not sure I would have checked as our doctor said all was fine at his early checks.

So, I imagine your HV was just doing her job and I would thank her for it. Key risks of undescended testicles are cancer and fertility issues - so important to check.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 04/08/2022 23:01

DS had his 1 year check a couple of months ago and he slept through it in his cot and she didn't even clap eyes on him!! Never mentioned anything about needing to check anything like that either.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 04/08/2022 23:02

Its essential at whatever age. My ex husband had testicles retained in his abdomen and nobody found out until he was in his teens. As a result he is completely infertile, they didn't even find one swimmer in his tests and a very high cancer risk. So that was my last chance to have another child gone.

Wetblanket78 · 04/08/2022 23:06

That should say referred to pead not lead.

ThePumpkinPatch · 04/08/2022 23:07

HuffleWoof · 04/08/2022 22:11

Do you really think your hv wanted to cop a feel of your baby's testicles? Fuck me that's something else

Quite

IAmNotCis1 · 04/08/2022 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Veryverycalmnow · 04/08/2022 23:14

Never happened here with ds

Fadeout83 · 04/08/2022 23:15

I asked for this to be specifically checked with both my sons but I err on the side of having everything that can be checked, checked.

Totally normal op, well done to your HV for being thorough :)

heartbroken22 · 04/08/2022 23:17

Op please ignore the rude posts. The use of the word testicles again and again says it all. You're right to feel concerned and I'm glad you've come on here and asked. I don't have sons and would be scared if things were checked all of a sudden by HV. I hope it doesn't hurt baby boys or is uncomfortable for them. I remember my HV being a total unprofessional cow for my first child but the second was lovely. You're just looking out for your son.

surreygirl1987 · 04/08/2022 23:24

*Do you really think your hv wanted to cop a feel of your baby's testicles? Fuck me that's something else

Did I write that? Or was it you?

I’m just asking if it’s a normal part of a one year check, as in my experience, it’s not been*

I thought you were insinuating something like this too.

baky · 04/08/2022 23:26

I don't think they checked my son. However I'm an A&E Dr and I regularly check boys testicles to make sure they are descended and for other reasons such as tortion/masses/infection/hernia. I wouldn't be worried if I were you

QuebecBagnet · 04/08/2022 23:28

I do NIPE checks on newborns and it’s something that is checked for then and again at 6 week check. So I can well imagine it’s checked again at a year. 🤷‍♀️

EmeraldShamrock1 · 04/08/2022 23:29

No I definitely would remember that.

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