Patient's question:
Age and condition description: My baby has only one testicle since birth. I haven't paid much attention to it before, and now it's still the same. Very urgent? What should I do?Past treatment history and effectiveness: Has not been seen by a doctor.
Help desired: What kind of treatment is needed?
Doctor's answer:
Hello! Your child's condition is known as cryptorchidism, where one testicle fails to descend into the scrotum and remains at any point in its normal descent pathway (25% located in the abdomen, 70%, about 5% remaining above the scrotum or in other locations), meaning only one side of the scrotum has a testicle. If you notice that your child has no testicles in the scrotum or only one side has a testicle, you should seek medical attention immediately. For children under one year old, certain medications may help the testicle descend into the scrotum on its own. If the testicle has not descended by the age of two, surgical intervention should be considered. Surgery before the age of two has minimal impact on the testicle's sperm production function, but it significantly affects it after the age of four, and severely impacts it after the age of eight. Even if surgery is performed after the age of twelve, the testicle's sperm production function cannot be restored. Therefore, the surgery to descend and fix the undescended testicle should be performed before the age of two. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and not delay any further. It is advised to visit the hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible.