Undescended testicle in 18mo, worried and upset

[porcamiseria]

Its likely my fault

but he will likely need surgey, and has a higher risk of infertility and testicular cancer

the causes can include maternal smoking/caffeine and alcohol when pregnant (I dabbled in all 3, but rarely)

But nonethless, its likely that my DS will have these risks and its possible it's my fault

he was late and a HUGE baby too

plus his willy is little, and thats probably linked too

fuck, sat at desk in tears that I might unsittingly be the cuase of this

Those things are not causes. They raise the risk factor. Probably from very very small to still very very small. I doubt it even doubles the risk factor even if you did them constantly through pg. Anyway those things are very low, almost at the bottom on the list of risk factors (I've just looked it up) Prematurity and low birth weight come at the top.

These things happen for no known reason. Even if it happens to 1 child in 1000, that's 0.1% of children, it still happens to a child. And it makes no difference that 999 children don't have it if your child has it.

It's natural to look for reasons to blame yourself. My dd2 was born without a hand. 30 children (in the Uk) are born a year with this, for no known reasons. Most parents upon finding out blame something they've done, we've discussed it when meeting up. We can laugh now, looking back, at what we thought we'd done to cause it(addiction to polo mints being one) but at the time we were often certain that it was our fault.

It's just "one of those things" and you're not to blame and didn't cause it.

Ok, namechanged to avoid embarrassment if DH ever looks here. He only has one, the other never descended properly and no-one ever told his mum it would be a problem (which they should have). He had some pain about 5 years ago and saw a Urologist who said there may be some fertility problems and he could have it removed/sorted to avoid any future risks re cancer but the pain settled down so he did nothing about it.

Since then we have a child conceived with no more than usual effort.

The operation to pull down the undescended testicle and stitch it in place is actually quite common and straightforward and once its done he should never have a problem again.

And, love, of course you are not the cause! Its relatively common! Take a deep breath and get the doc to sort surgery out, it really is ok and you won't look back.

porca my ds2 had undescended testicles. He had an operation to bring them down and stitched in place. Get it done as soon as possible, my ds didn't have it done until he was 8. I regret that but as I didn't drink, smoke or have caffeine I certainly don't blame myself, it was just one of those things.

OH! why are you blaming yourself? My DS (14 months) just had an operation for his. Unfortunately they could only find a 'nubbin' and removed it but really his risk of cancer/infertility is very small. He has one ball but he is fine and the operation went fine.

Please don't blame yourself.

seeing a doc next week for referrals

Of course there is a chance its not my fault. But I have to also confront the fact that maybe it IS my fault. I genuinely dont think the odd wine/coffee does much, and still dont TBH. But fags are packed with chemicals.

just feel sad that he might have repuircussions late in life

also is his teeny willy linked? even a friend commented on it

thanks

and glad yueling that your little man is OK and recovered x

Don't all baby boys have a teeny willy .

He really doesn't have any greater chance of repercussions in later life if he has the op done. I'm sure somewhere says its fine if its done before puberty.. hang on I'll look...

Ok I know this is only one study but here states "CONCLUSIONS
Treatment for undescended testis before puberty decreases the risk of testicular cancer."

Have you actually spoken to a doctor about this or are you just scaring yourself via the medium of google?

(name changed)
my ds had this(on both) it is not your fault.
he had the op twice as he had to have both done.
wasn't nice, but he is now 20 and they are both still there and no problems(well he hasn't said there is)
and all little boys who are missing a bit iynwim look like they have little willies.
I remember being shocked by babies that had 2 testicles. I think it is haow it "sits" it just looks smaller.

meant to add, ds had both ops done before he was 4.

or are you just scaring yourself via the medium of google?

Yes

bloody Dr Google, he gets me very time x

It's not your fault, it's just one of those things. There are all manner of things possibly linked with undescended testes, but most people with all of those risk factors still won't be affected, and plenty of people with none of them will. Medical statistics is about getting a handle on the epidemiology of risk factors in large populations, not about establishing 'fault' for individuals. Just concentrate on getting the best possible medical advice and having it dealt with.

My ds had it too, his was brought down at 16 months. FWIW even if they'd discovered it earlier they probably wouldn't have done anything about it, because they like to wait and see if it'll come down on its own. My ds's didn't, and it was operated on, very straightforwardly, as a day case. He's now 13 and not obviously scarred for life.

All older boys should be told to check for testicular lumps as a matter of course anyway.

Don't fret, just concentrate on getting it dealt with.

Porca,

There was another thread on this today, think you were on it. I posted a longer reply on there.

As you can see from all the replies, it's not that uncommon and everyone has said it's easily sorted.

You are being the best parent you can be and getting it sorted and he'll never know there was really a problem.

I don't smoke, didn't take alcohol or caffeine whilst pregnant and my DS still has an undescended testicle.

Please don't worry too much.

That's definitely true about waiting for it to come down, we waited until he was over a year. Don't fret.

My husband is more worried about it than me as he thinks our son will get picked on but I think he just needs to be brought up with confidence about it being something that happens (ie not actually having one) and then he can talk about it openly and with confidence when he's older, specially to those he is in a sexual relationship with.

The cancer risk is lessened by having them brought down.

As others have said- please don't blame yourself. Do not google! My ds had undescended testicle and op at 14 months. All went well. NO medical professional suggested it was my fault. As others have said risk lessens of cancer after op. Any increased risk is still a low risk.
DON'T WORRY!

THANKS everyone, i really appreciate the calming advice. thanks

just popping back to say I can totally understand your upset - if you need any info about the operation I can share what happened with my DS. He had his op on 27th Feb so it's fairly recent. He is absolutely fine now, all healed up and really active and happy.

thanks yueling, if it comes to it i will take you up on that x