The main sign of undescended testes is one testis (a single testicle) or both testes missing from the scrotum. Undescended testes will not cause your child any problems with urination, and will not cause any pain, unless the cord attached to the testis (spermatic cord) becomes twisted.
The main sign: You can't see or feel the testicle in the scrotum. When both are undescended, the scrotum looks flat and smaller than you'd expect it to be. Some boys have what's called a retractile testicle. It may move up into their groin when they are cold or scared but moves back down on its own.
It's estimated about 1 in every 25 boys are born with undescended testicles. In most cases no treatment is necessary, as the testicles will usually move down into the scrotum naturally during the first 3 to 6 months of life.
At the start of puberty, the testicles increase in size, drop lower, and the scrotum darkens, becomes looser, and becomes dotted with small bumps. Later in puberty, the penis begins to grow and mature. Pubic hair begins to grow shortly after changes in the scrotum.
Sometimes a child's testicle will drop, but then retract or pull back into the scrotum. This is not considered an undescended testicle. This happens because of the strength of the muscles (cremasteric reflex) that retract the testicles before puberty. This is considered fairly normal and does not require surgery.
Boys can start puberty at a wide range of ages, with 95% starting between the ages of 9 and 14, so we consider puberty delayed when it has not started by age 14. The earliest sign of puberty in boys is enlargement of the testicles, followed by growth of the penis and pubic hair.
The majority of the time, sagging testicles are a normal part of the aging process. The testicles naturally sag, even at a young age, to protect the sperm inside and keep them viable. Anyone worried about saggy balls or other associated symptoms should contact a doctor for a diagnosis.
Balls drop after birth
They drop into the scrotum (ball bag) soon after birth. Sometimes one or both balls don't drop into the ball bag straight away but they do eventually (sometimes with surgical help). After that they slowly get bigger and heavier during puberty.
In boys, the first puberty change is the enlargement of the scrotum and testes. At this point, the penis does not enlarge. As the testes and scrotum continue to grow, the penis grows. The first growth of pubic hair produces long, soft hair that is only in a small area around the genitals.
If the testicles don't drop into the scrotum, they may not function normally and produce healthy sperm. This can lead to infertility later in life. Males born with undescended testicles also have a higher risk of testicular cancer in adulthood.
For many boys, the testicles will begin to descend around the age of 10, although it can happen as early as 8 or as late as 12.
Testicular volume rapidly increases during puberty and peaks at age 30 years. Subsequently, the volume of the testes stabilizes in a plateau-like manner until age 60 years. After age 60 years, this study shows that testicular volume decreases significantly.
The testicles should feel smooth, without any lumps or bumps, and firm but not hard. You may feel a soft tube at the back of each testicle, which is called the epididymis. If you notice any changes or anything unusual about your testicles, you should see a GP.
And yes, some sagging is entirely normal. One of the harsh realities of aging is that body parts begin to sag. Along with all the common areas, like the chin or eyelids, most men will notice that their balls start to sit a little lower than in their younger days. In most cases, this is totally normal, says Dr.
Pubic hair -- the hair around your penis and testicles -- often starts to appear when a boy is 12. The penis starts to grow in size often around the age of 13. Also around age13, you may notice a temporary growth in the size of your breasts.
This is a time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. Hormones change as puberty begins. Most boys grow facial and pubic hair and their voices deepen. Most girls grow pubic hair and breasts, and start their period.
Some young people get pains and aches in their legs and muscles as they grow taller. Sometimes this can cause pain and discomfort during or after exercise. Usually growing pains will go away on their own but if they don't, it's important to get checked out by a health professional.
Sometimes a child is born with the testes in the scrotum, but they develop undescended testes later. As the child grows, the spermatic cord fails to grow at the same rate. It ends up too short, and pulls the testis back up into the groin. This can happen between one and 10 years of age.
The cremaster muscle is a muscle in the groin that pulls the testicles up closer to the body. It then relaxes to release the testicles back into the scrotum. This movement is a normal reflex. However, a child can develop retractile testicles if the testicles do not move back down into the scrotum.
What is this? If you can't tell whether or not your baby boy's balls have dropped, Dr. Poinsett describes it like this: “Dropped balls look like small marbles. They are smooth and firm in texture.”
When you climax, it's normal for testicles to "ride up" into your body. In some males, an "overactive" cremaster muscle pulls one (or both) of the testicles all the way out of the scrotum up into the groin. This condition, called retractile testicle, may explain your experience.
A testicle that doesn't move down into its proper place in the scrotum before birth is called an undescended testicle. It's also known as cryptorchidism (krip-TOR-kih-diz-um). Most often, it's just one testicle that doesn't descend into the scrotum, which is the bag of skin that hangs below the penis.