Worried ds1 has undescended testicles.

[mummypig]

Ds1 is 7 and has a very small neat scrotum which doesn't appear to have anything in it. By this age, shouldn't his scrotum be looser and danglier and clearly carrying two testicles? Since he is my first, I don't have anything to compare him with.

I hadn't worried about this at all until ds3's 8 month check (which actually happened a lot later than 8 months). Ds3 had a stretchy spermatic cord, so his testicles weren't in his scrotum but could be gently pulled into place. The hv said not to worry unless they hadn't descended properly by about 12-14 months, so to keep an eye on them. Ds1's red book doesn't show any query about his testicles but now I am starting to wonder if something similar happened and it just wasn't checked further. Or if the person doing his check just didn't do it properly.

I've googled 'undescended testicles' and found that it's best to have an operation before the age of 2, because of infertility and also possible risks of cancer. But I see on here that some kids have had the op much later. What were you told about sperm count etc?

Please excuse my late-night concerns. These things always seem worse in the middle of the night! But if you have grounds to reassure me I would be very appreciative.

We've been discussing this here

DS1 is 5 1/2 and also has a rather tight looking scrotum.

My brothers both had this, and had their ops when they were 8 and 11, I think. This was over 30 years ago, mind you! So far no health problems (that I know of), and one of them has 3 beautiful kids.

thanks, both of you, and that's very reassuring weebump. Exactly what I wanted to hear .

Am I right to think that his scrotum probably doesn't have anything in it? He let me have a feel, and I couldn't feel anything. I have since read that it's best to check in a warm bath, so I could try again but I don't have much hope that it will make any difference.

It can be really hard. I remember the doc who looked at ds1 took his time before finally saying for sure that he could feel each one. Definitely easier in a warm bath.