Referred re undescended testicles - I'm so worried

[ImpYCelyn]

DS is almost 13m. At his 6 week check and his 9 month check they noticed that his testicles hadn't descended, so they told me to see a GP at 12m to see where they were by then.

They still aren't down. The GP has referred us to a paediatric surgeon, who we're seeing in 3.5 weeks. In the meantime I'm worrying myself silly over it.

I tried to read up on the internet to be informed etc, but I keep reading about reduced fertility and hormonal deficiencies and it's really worrying me.

I also read one study which found a link between undescended testes and mothers taking paracetamol during pregnancy. I had terrible headaches when I was pregnant with DS and did take paracetamol, so now I feel it's my fault.

And I'm pregnant again and this time it's brought back my migraines, so I've been taking paracetamol, so now I'm worried about DC2 as well if it's a boy. I saw my GP about the migraines and after consulting the hospital pharmacologist the only thing he would recommend me was ibuprofen; which has an even stronger link to undescended testes, so I can't bring myself to take that either, just in case.

This should probably be two threads: one where I angst about it being my fault, and the other where I ask for advice.

Anyway, has anyone experienced this with their DS? What's likely to happen please? I assume from the fact that we've been referred to a surgeon that they're going to operate on him. I'm petrified about that.

Thanks for any advice and reassurance!

my ds had 1 undescended and had an op, they made a tiny incision, pulled it down and stitched it to stay down. from what i can remember it was only a day procedure (unlike other ops he has had) and ds was fine after it. My son's was because of a medical condition he has. there has been no problems since, he was about two-ish when he had it done and he is now nearly eight.

i think it is quite a common thing and often they eventually descend, i also think operations for it are also quite common.

Thanks very much countydurhamlass, I'm relieved to hear it's only a day procedure, I was imagining some awful big thing requiring admission etc. I'm glad it all went well for your DS.

From what I've read there are quite a lot of boys who have one undescended, I think it's because it's both of his that it's really freaking me out. I'm worried they won't work properly when he's older

My friend's son had this. They waited till he was quite a a bit older. The surgery was really easy, and no bad consequences (he's 19 now).

I think - from reading about this a while ago - it's crucial that it's done before about age 2, and not afterwards (otherwise there's a strong correlation with problems) and your ds is on track for that.

Thanks everyone - you're making me feel better that it's quite simple.

LaPrune - fingers crossed then that there's not a massive waiting list! I'm really glad the GP decided not to just wait and see any longer if that's the case.

If there is a massive waiting list - I bet there isn't but just in case - I would kick up a stink and cite some research. Too big a thing to risk.

From what I gather, they're far more aware of the need to get it done quickly than they were a generation ago.

DS1 had this, we were referred at 12 months to the paediatric urologist and they suggested we wait till he was 2. At that point he had an ultrasound to double check exactly where they were (there was a lot o f screaming!) and 6 months later a follow up appt where they discovered they'd come down on their own. He's 7 now and won't let me check but until he was 4/5 I'd just check in the bath ocassionally having read one random thing after googling that they might retract again!
DS2 was fine but I did get them to check as soon as he was born
Good luck at the appt.

Good idea - I'll see if I can find some research so I can go prepared.

Thank you very much!