Balls dropping into the sack is meant to happen by the age of 3.

[starshaker]

I just thought i would post this since i didn't know until the health visitor told me.

I took DS to the doctors and he said bring him back when hes 3. I took him back and they were still not descended (although the doc could feel and move them). He was referred to the pediatric surgeon and his appointment is today so we will find out if he needs surgery.

I just though, since I didn't know and people i tell don't know that i should let you guys know. When i tell people they say "oh i thought that happened in puberty" and thats not the case. The doctor has said that if its left it can cause infertility.

Show I was asking a question, not being sarcastic.

I'm now rather concerned about DS but as Llareggub says his sac is wrinkly so they're definitely there sometimes. His red book says they were down at birth.

If they are there sometimes when should we expect them to be down permanently?

Oh no I wasn't implying sarcasm or anything of the sort. I was trying to work out what you meant by your post. I wasn't sure if you were asking if the op's ds's were descended at birth. Not sure what you mean about sarcasm. I just hasn't understood your post and who you were referring to in your first sentence. Now you've clarified, I see you mean your own ds.

I've googled for you and found this:

"90% of retractile testicles will descend and relax into the scrotum during puberty. Until that time, regular testicular exams are important to monitor for abnormalities"

Same site says your son should be taught to do his own testicle examinations and to know what's normal for him but not until he's a bit older than now. It also said he should be monitored by a doctor to be on the safe side but stresses that it is normal. They do sometimes stitch them down to prevent torsion.

Show, which site is that? my DS is 10 now and his testicles are still not descended. In his case, according to the paediatrician, he has a very strong muscles keeping them up. The doctor assured me this would not affect his fertility but I still worry.

Thank you show , It's sometimes so difficult to tell inflection on here! :o

I'm taking DS to see our Dr on Friday, to put my mind at rest more than anything else.

He's spent all weekend telling me his sac is empty, i suspect it's just an excuse for him to have his hands in his pants!

They are checked at the 6wk check and my boys were checked when they were toddler as well, like a preschool check? But may e it depends on the area and your gp?

Undescended testicles are testicles that have never made their way all the way to the scrotum (in the foetus they start out in a similar place to the ovaries and gradually make their way down). Generally a testicle which is going to make its own way down will have done so by term but there is an occasional one which makes its own way down by 1 yr of age. Undescended testicles are inside the body so you can't feel them at all
Retractile testicles are testicles which have made their way down to the scrotum but sometimes like to sit tugged up against the body. They are most likely to do this in someone cold or stressed but the testicle can be felt if you know where to look

Undescended testicles do need to be found and moved down to the scrotum for three reasons. Firstly, testicular cancer, not so much that there is a hugely increased risk, more that it is a relatively common but very curable cancer if found early (ie by feeling a lump on yourtesticle) but if you can't feel the testicle by the time the cancer shows any symptoms it will have spread so cure is less likely. Secondly, fertility, testicles live in e scrotum because being cool is good for sperm, a testis inside the body will be too warm to produce good sperm. Thirdly, cosmetic reasons, without a testicle in it the scrotum won't look the same as everyone else's.

Retractile testes are nothing to worry about and generally spend less and less time up against the body as a boy gets older.

Testicles are checked for as part of the newborn check. If they are there then, there is no need to look for them again as they can't become undescended (though they can become retractile). If they aren't there then, the person doing the check should tell you to go to your gp if you've not noticed them by 1 yr of age.

If you're worried that your son has undescended testicles the best thing to do is see if you (or he, depending on his age) can find them when he is relaxed in a warm bath. You're actually more likely to find them doing this than by going to the gp because stripping off in a cold room in front of a stranger is likely to make retractile testes very retractile! If you can't find them, go to the gp who will know the right place to look, if the gp can't find them they can refer you to a paeds surgeon who is very good at knowing exactly where to look and if all else fails can do an ultrasound scan which will show exactly where they are

Is anyone still on this thread? I'm really glad I found it anyway... Just been to see a consultant about DS1's missing testicles (he's nearly 4) and was told that they are retractile and that this is perfectly normal. I'm still worried about him though... His boy bits definitely don't look like other boys' and I'm concerned about what he's going to make of the when he works that out...

OP, what happened with your consultation?

Shocking check with your GP. If they are not spending enough time in the scrotum then it won't stretch enough to accommodate them as he grows.

I just had a response from our Dr regarding DS's retractile Testicles, she says the hosp policy is to keep a close eye on them until puberty, and if they are still yoyo-ing then they will put in a stitch to hold them in place.

Not sure how you keep an eye on the balls of an 11+ year old! :o