How do you know if your ds's testicles have descended?

[ShowOfHands]

Sorry to be bandying balls about on a Friday afternoon so close to lunch but a friend's ds was recently referred re an undescended testicle. Apparently, it should have descended before he turned 1 but hadn't.

I have an 8 month old son and my knowledge of testicles extends to how many you'd generally expect and where. I would for example be surprised to find them on a woman or to come across a third on anybody, male or female. Actually, I'd be surprised to be firtling around anybody's undercarriage tbh, that's even before I started counting gonads.

Anyway, is this something which is routinely checked with boys or is it something I'm supposed to note or not note and take appropriate action? I seem to remember the paed checking for testicles at ds's newborn check. He definitely has them. Now should I be looking out for them going somewhere? Or should they already have gone there? I have enough trouble writing down things like 'first smile' milestones in his baby book. I'd overlooked testicles entirely.

I didn't want to google btw, for obvious reasons. I googled for a recipe once and ended up looking at a woman doing something to a snake which I can't describe without crying.

Anyway, going out for a few hours. Just in case anybody thought I was Perv McPerv asking for testicle stories and not replying. Testicles aren't my thing. Damian Lewis and David Mitchell on bread is more my kind of area.

Don't worry. You would have had check before leaving hospital and at 6 week check. If there was a problem it should have been flagged up by now.

If the doc felt them both in the scrotum at his check I wouldn't be worrying. If it was descended before then they will probably stay there.

They check in the hospital, I think and tell you if they need further checking.

Now if someone will tell me if I need to somehow find out if 11 year old's foreskin is retracting........

(he is a boy, so I know he's got one......)

Showy I have googled for you. It looks as though if you haven't had a problem previously at birth or at 6 week checks etc it seems to be okay. It appears it is usually apparent after birth and if they are undescended at this poiont they are given a few months to wriggle out of their own accord, if they do not escape on their own then they may need furtling out. (All in my unqualified opinion of course.)

If you want to check at nappy time I think it should appear/feel like two small marbles in a sock. (Don't squeeze too hard though as you may bring tears to his eyes)

oh balls

Occasionally one might be retractile and have a tendency to hide in the groin but as long as it can be coaxed down again by a dr its fine. Think of it as boing on a long piece of elastic. It's not going anywhere. You won't find it lurking behind his knee or in his armpit.

It IS part of the newborn check, and I believe the only follow-up would be if there was one or two undescended. They develop in the abdomen and 'descend' into the scrotum, normally before birth. If they haven't done that then they usually get there by about 6 months but if they haven't referral is needed to stop them being damaged. They might retract up to the groin but that can be completely normal.
So you don't need to worry. Concentrate on Damian Lewis. Much more interesting.

seeker when do you think the foreskin issue is a problem? I have no idea about my DS's either (and neither does my DH, him being of the generation in my country where all boys were routinely circumcised). Do you think it would be sore if it wasn't? Presumably they (the boys in question) would say something??

seeker can be anytime up until 18yrs I think, average about 10 1/2 yrs. You could just ask him

Well,Ds went through his baby checks without anyone raising any doubts about his testicles - but 2 ops later he is sorted.This was years ago now,so my memory of the checks is nonexistent vague,but if they are there you can see them/feel them - at least some of the time,and if they aren't you can't,there is just skin....(just in the course of normal nappy changing etc!)

But little boys testicles can go up and down,into the abdomen from the scrotum.If you are in any doubt ask your GP as they can check if they are just doing this normal stuff or are never moving out of the abdomen.

At the risk of outing myself,DS's problems went on so long his first response on being taken to the GP for whatever was "will he want to see my willy?"!
Er,probably not,DS - you've got earache!

I have absolutely nothing of use to add to your thread. But I read the first part of your OP, remembering that DS had had checks for that when born and at 6 week check. Had a sudden thought of 'oh, I don't think DC2 had that check at all, I must follow that up!' before I remembered that DC2 is a girl

POC well you never know, I know a lot of men that think with their willy not their brain!
WOW

Testicles in baby boys can be retractile and bounce in and out of the scrotum.

DS's testicles were marked down as present and correct at his leaving hospital check and his 6 week check.

A few months later, at a baby clinic weigh-in, the health visitor asked me if I'd noticed that his testicles weren't descended. I hadn't noticed, as I see very few naked babies, but after the health visitor told me what to look out for, now when I look at him at nappy / bath time, sometimes they're there and sometimes they're not.

It's apparently fairly normal for them to do this before 1 yr.

they do bob up and down a bit. have a gentle feel after a bath in a warm room while his scrotum is all floppy and soft. Use the pads of 1 or 2 fingers and just gently roll your fingers over the balls. if they're there you'll feel them. If you don't feel them the first time just keep checking after bath time each day. If you still cannot feel them then ask the GP to check. Is there anything written in his red book?

Sorry I disappeared for much longer than intended. Went to a friend for stuffed chilli balls. Aherm.

His red book/discharge notes say he has two testicles, the bit on the testicle check is just ticked. I hope that means we're in the clear. DS's testicles look nothing like I would have thought. Or his scrotum I suppose. Men clearly have that two kinder egg inners suspended in a half skinned rabbit thing going on. DS has this little neat turtle back. I'm rather sad to think he's going to evolve from one to the other.

WOW, I can confirm that nobody ever checked dc1 (dd) for testicles. I'm composing a letter of complaint to my hv.

Thanks for googling charley. You're a better woman than I (we knew that already).

Oh and I asked dh last night how you knew a boy's testicles had descended. And he said 'through the magic of looking'. Cheeky git.

Turtle back thats exactly what DS's look like when hes fresh out the bath or a bit chilly. All neat and together. When he's warm and toasty the skin relaxes into skinned rabbit at bit.

Showy, don't be silly lovely lady, glad to know all is okay. Love DH comment

Yes, turtle back! That's definitely what it looks like if they are a bit chilly. Come to think of it, so do DH's

Perhaps TMI?