Bringing a newborn home can feel overwhelming, like tackling a big challenge before you’re ready. While your baby isn’t walking or running yet, they’re growing and changing rapidly. Between managing sleep schedules, tracking their weight and height, and enjoying their adorable squeaks and squeals, there are many milestones to keep an eye on. One of these milestones for newborn boys involves ensuring their testicles have descended—a detail that’s important for their overall health.
For full-term newborn boys, undescended testicles, or cryptorchidism, are relatively rare, occurring in about 3-4% of cases. However, this condition is much more common in boys born prematurely, with a 30% chance. The good news is that for babies born with this issue, around two-thirds see it resolve naturally by the time they’re 3 to 4 months old. If your baby’s testicles haven’t descended by birth, you’re not alone, and there are solutions available.
Parents can often monitor this during routine diaper changes, and pediatricians will also check for it during regular wellness visits. If undescended testicles persist beyond a few months, further steps need to be taken to address potential risks and treatment options.
### Understanding the Risks
Regular pediatric check-ups are crucial for identifying and treating conditions like cryptorchidism early. Missing these visits could allow the problem to go undetected, which may lead to complications. Potential risks include:
– **Infertility:** Boys with one undescended testicle may experience a slight decrease in fertility compared to the general population. However, those with both testicles undescended could see up to a 29% drop in fertility likelihood.
– **Testicular Cancer:** While still uncommon overall, boys with a history of undescended testicles are four times more likely to develop testicular cancer compared to the general population.
### Treatment Options
If a baby’s testicles haven’t descended by the time they reach six months, a surgical procedure known as orchiopexy is recommended. While surgery can’t undo every risk tied to the condition, it helps prevent future complications. Delaying treatment increases the likelihood of further problems since undescended testicles are more susceptible to damage. The surgery is scheduled after the six-month mark to ensure it’s safe for the baby to undergo anesthesia.
### Recovery
The good news is that treatment is typically very effective, and recovery is quick with minimal pain. While your baby may experience some mild discomfort for a day or two, they’ll quickly return to their usual active self. Most healing occurs within 3-4 weeks, with complete recovery expected by three months.
### Cryptorchidism in Older Children and Teenagers
For children or teens with undescended testicles that weren’t addressed in infancy, surgery can be more complex. Longer-term exposure to improper conditions increases the risks, such as infertility or cancer. In some cases, doctors may recommend removing the testicle altogether if corrective surgery is less feasible.
Starting treatment early is always preferred, but even older children and adults can benefit from addressing the condition promptly. While it may be more challenging to resolve later, it’s vital to minimize potential long-term complications.
### The Bottom Line
With so many things happening in your baby’s life, it’s not always easy to keep track of every detail. That’s why your pediatrician is an essential partner in navigating your child’s health, especially during their first year. If you haven’t established care with a pediatrician yet, now is the perfect time to start. Taking proactive steps will help you stay on top of your baby’s health while giving them the best start possible.