Floating Testicle

[BroodyRhi]

Hello

My DP in childhood had testicles which floated out of their proper home up inside him (not sure to where but not to far as he could push them down again, sorry for TMI). He had one tied down to the right place with an operation at 8. The other one they left to its own free floating devices.

So to bring this to the point. Last night we were talking about TTC and he is sure that this still floating ball will be in tip top condition and working fine. I am unsure, surely any goods in there will be getting too hot?? He is the eternal optimist while I worry about everything.

Has anyone else here got a DP/DH with a similar problem/complaint?? Only one who knows more is the MIL and I dont really want to tell her just yet that we are thinking of TTC for obvious reasons. But want to know if with this floating there was still a BFP at the end or if interventions were needed??

Thanks and sorry for lack of medical knowledge!

'floater' probably did get too warm over the years for optimum fertility, but the other one should be fine.

FWIW, my dh has a cndition (can't remember its name) a bit like having a painless varicose vein in the scrotum. It means that that testicle has too much blood in the vessels around it, and therefore gets too warm, so reducing its fertility.

Nonetheless, as dh puts it: "He shoots - he scores!" ie dcs 1 and 2 conceived literally at first attempts. Dc3 took conventionally longer.

Hope this reassures.

Thanks Candles :)

Think DP does not want to think about it not working but am sure his positivity will help. And I just dont know enough about subject to reassure myself or him.

Does anyone know the stats for conceiving with one ball??

Any one with experience/knowledge about conception with one testicle?

Hi BroodyRhi,

I've been assured over and over that one testicle works just as well as two. I don't have any statistics, but every doctor and nurse I've spoken to have made the point with gusto. My DH has just the one after having testicular cancer earlier this year.

The only other thing I would say is to please make sure he checks his balls regularly and is on the look out for lumps and bumps. An undescended testicle puts him at a higher risk of testicular cancer, so checking is very important (not trying to frighten you, just make you aware).

:)

Thanks Fancy,

Did not know he was more at risk of TC because of this. Will help him be on the look out.

Sorry to hear about your DP's diagnosis. Hope he is well again.

:)

broody, Can I suggest you ask your GP if a floating testicle puts your DH at a higher risk of having developed 'antisperm antibodies'. We just found out my DH has these on Friday. They are not tested for normally, even in routine seman analysis. If he has them they can have a significant impact on fertility. They often arise out of a trauma to the testicles, or surgery etc, so I don't know if the floating testicle applies here which is why I suggest you double-check and ask for the test if need be as a precaution. IMO it's worth knowing sooner rather than later if this is the case. Other than that, I've also heard that one testicle works just fine too.

Thanks Choccie, also did not know about him possibly developing anti sperm antibodies. Do you know if you can request this test routinely or would we have to go private to get the test? Also as we have not been trying long and are both in early twenties am not sure what would happen if we were having problems

broody, I must stress that I don't know for sure if your DH's condition places him at risk; just that I think it worth checking. It's not a routine test: we only got it as part of going forward for IVF, so despite my DH having had routine semen analysis tests previously (and being told he was totally fine on the basis of those), we got a big shock.

... and I have to say, we are very distressed at all the time wasted had we known earlier.

So if I were you, I'd ask for a definitive answer IF either the floating testicle or the surgery at 8 places him at higher than normal risk for developing antisperm antibodies; and if it does, or if there is any doubt, ask for a MARS test to be done to rule it out straight away.

I think you have reasonable grounds for asking for this.

Also ... don't assume that your GP will be informed about antisperm antibodies either; it's not very common and my experience with TTC and various GPs is they really only know the basics. So be prepared to be insistent and pushy that they follow it up and give proper answers.

Thanks Choccie, I am armed with a question and test to ask doctor if it gets to that, and I agree that we have reasonable grounds to ask for extra test given his previous medical history.

And thanks to everyone who responded, I feel reassured that there are options/test/positivity :)