Patient's question:
When the child was born, one side didn't come down. I had consulted some doctors before. Some said surgery should be done before the age of two, while others said there's no big deal and surgery isn't necessary. Now my child is almost three years old. Should I have surgery? What are the effects and potential aftereffects?Doctor's answer:
The child's condition is cryptorchidism, which is caused by incomplete ascent of the testicles. If the testicles have not descended into the scrotum from the abdominal cavity by the optimal time for cryptorchidism surgery in this child, they may suffer irreversible damage. The temperature in the abdominal cavity is relatively higher, which can cause significant swelling of the testicles, obstruct sperm development, and greatly reduce the patient's fertility. Many patients who undergo surgical treatment at the age of 4 or 8 have their fertility severely impaired. Performing surgery after puberty has little effect on fully restoring fertility. Therefore, early surgery is recommended.