Testicular disease in babies: Causes and treatment

Hidden testicular disease if not detected early and treated promptly will cause dangers and complications for the baby later. 

Hidden testicles are one of the dangerous diseases that boys often get. If the disease is not detected early and treated in time, it will cause danger and complications for the baby. So, what is latent testicular disease? Causes, manifestations, and treatment of hidden testicles like? Parents, please refer to the following article!

What is latent testicular disease?

Some boys are born with only 1 testicle in the scrotum behind the penis. Usually, the other testicle is present, but it is located higher, usually in the abdomen. In some babies, this happens to both testicles. The failure of one or both testicles to move down the scrotum is a medical term called the hidden testicles.

The latent testicles are quite common, especially in premature babies . After birth, boys need to be checked regularly for latent testicular disease. During the examination, the doctor will look and feel to find all of the testicles in the baby's scrotum.

There is a possibility that your baby's testicles will move down the scrotum by themselves before they are 6 months old. For this reason, doctors usually wait before starting treatment. However, if your baby's testicles have not moved down after 6 months, your doctor may prescribe treatment.

What causes the hidden testicles?

In most boys, the testicles move down the scrotum after 28 weeks of gestation . The hidden testicles are more likely to get stuck in the abdomen or in the groin canal. This is one of the reasons why hidden testicles are more common in preterm infants. These babies are simply born before the testicles have time to travel to the scrotum.

However, no one knows exactly what the cause is. Maybe when pregnant, pregnant mothers often smoke, drink alcohol during pregnancy affecting the testicles, but this is only a hypothesis.

In addition, the mother may have been exposed to a toxic substance in her surroundings during pregnancy. However, the evidence for this is still insufficient. Another possible reason is genetics. Sometimes, the hidden testicles occur along with other medical problems, such as a small hole in the abdominal wall called a hernia.

What problems can the hidden testicles cause?

There are four main concerns for the hidden testicles:

A baby's fertility can be affected as he grows. When growing up, the baby needs to keep the sensitive part cool below body temperature so that the sperm can be stored and ensure normal function;

Most likely the testicle could be damaged or injured if it is located at a different location on the baby's scrotum;

Your baby has a higher risk of developing testicular cancer in the future;

Babies may feel guilty knowing this.

Treatment for the hidden testicles

The main treatment is surgery. If your baby's testicles don't move down by the time your baby is four months old, your doctor will recommend a type of surgery called orchiopexy surgery. This surgery is usually done between 6 months and 2 years of age.

Baby was anesthetized during the surgery. The surgeon will find the hidden testicle to see if it is healthy and return it to the correct position in the scrotum. Some children need surgery in stages, usually 2 times. In some babies, the testicles return to the abdomen after surgery. Therefore, your baby should be checked often.

In the long term, surgery of the hidden testicles when a baby is a child can reduce the risk of testicular cancer  later in life. Having testicles in the scrotum makes it easier to detect cancerous tumors.

Hope this article has provided you with lots of useful information.