Undescended Testicles

[Snowman2020]

My DS is 2 and yesterday went to the OOH GP yesterday for a fungal infection around his penis. (The pharmacist said he needs some cream that we couldn't get over the counter and was best to start sooner rather than later).

Whilst the GP was examining him she said we should get an appointment with our own doctors and ask for an appointment to urology because she think his testicles are undescended.

I've had a bit of a read on it and it's normally picked up at their new born checks but nothing was ever said. Because he's 2 it's an operation to fix and could cause fertility problems and increases the chance of testicular cancer.

Has anyone else's DS had this, how old were they, did they have the operation to sort it?

Not my DS but my DH. He had the operation when he was just under 2 and has experienced no fertility issues at all. He obviously can't remember the op.

I did a lot of research on this and the single most important factor that affects fertility is how early the operation is performed. It seems to be the heat in the body that affects the testicles long term. I would suggest you move as quickly as possible at this point to have the operation and give your DS the best chances.

Good luck.

Thank you so much, i will be on with the doctors first thing Monday morning and hopefully can get things moving quickly

Hi my Ds had this picked up at baby checks got referred urologist said wait a year to see if it drops on its own went in March said not dropped so needed the orchidopexy. He had it in September he's OK now (hurt to wee for a few days) , due to go back for post op check in a couple of months. My understanding is his fertility is OK ( only need to have 1 working testicle). And will need to keep a check for lumps etc as he gets older but no more than normal. (but will clarify this before we get discharged).
@WoolyMammoth55 how is your Ds now?

Hello we noticed this in our little boy last year (only one side not dropped). He had his op this summer aged 2 1/2. Was abit sore for 2wks (i was in more of a state about it) but all healed up well and he has his 6 month checkup next month. We were told if he didnt have it done there was a high risk of testicular cancer and infertility. So it was a no brainer to get it done. They like to do it a soon as possible. So definetely get him referred.

They may well have been present at the six week check- DS's we're, but they retracted at a later date (no idea when!) and we only picked it up when he was 3, and he had the operation at 3.5

He's been fine since, but is hitting puberty now, so will need to examine himself regularly to check for lumps.

My little one had this. Diagnosed as a newborn, op at around seven months old. I’m pretty sure I was more distressed then he was.

I’m not going to lie; watching him being put under was hard and his nappy immediately after was pretty awful. But he bounced back so quickly and I can’t even see the scars now (less than a year on).

Thank you everyone! I'm going to ring the GP today to try get seen. He's already had a general anaesthetic for something else but I can't imagine it gets any easier watching them!

Just an update my DS was seen yesterday and an urgent referral has been made to urology. Not sure what urgent means now a days so who knows how long we will wait. He needs a scan first to locate them as the gp couldn't feel them.

My son had a scan to locate a missing testicle at 18 months old and then he was operated on just before his second birthday.

Quite happy to talk to you about it if you’d like - just message me.