Undescended Testicle: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Undescended Testicle?
A pediatrician, a doctor for babies and children, often spots an undescended testicle at a checkup. A pediatric urologist, a children's specialist in the urinary and reproductive systems, or a pediatric surgeon treats it if needed. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is an undescended testicle?
An undescended testicle happens when one or both testicles do not move into the scrotum before birth. The scrotum is the pouch that normally holds the testicles. Doctors also call this cryptorchidism.
Testicles make male hormones and sperm. Before birth, they are inside the belly. They usually move down into the scrotum just before or after birth.
Symptoms
Most of the time there are no symptoms other than the missing testicle in the scrotum. Doctors call this an empty scrotum.
- One or both testicles cannot be felt inside the scrotum.
- A testicle that cannot be felt might be inside the belly, too small to feel, or not there at all.
Some babies have retractile testes. In this case, the testicle is normal, but a muscle reflex pulls it back out of the scrotum. The testicles are still small before puberty, so this can happen. They will come down on their own at puberty, and surgery is not needed.
Causes and who gets it
Undescended testicles are common in babies who are born early. They happen less often in babies born on time. Up to 45% of boys born early and 4% of boys born on time have at least one undescended testicle.
In some boys, no testicle is found, even during surgery. This may be due to a problem that happened while the baby was still developing before birth.
How doctors diagnose it
A doctor checks the scrotum. An exam by the doctor confirms that one or both testicles are not in the scrotum. Sometimes the doctor can feel the testicle in the belly wall above the scrotum, and sometimes not.
If the doctor cannot feel the testicle, it is called nonpalpable, which means not able to be felt. It is important to find out if it is inside the belly, too small to feel, or not there at all. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, are not recommended. Surgery is usually needed to find the testicle.
Treatment
In most cases, the testicle moves down on its own in the first few months of life. If this has not happened by six months, it may need treatment from a doctor.
The main treatment is surgery called orchiopexy, which is said OR-key-oh-PECK-see. It brings the testicle down into the scrotum. When the testicle can be felt in the groin, the surgeon makes a small cut in the groin. The operation takes about one hour. Babies who have it usually go home the same day.
Having surgery early may prevent damage to the testicles and avoid infertility, which means trouble having children. Moving the testicle into the scrotum before puberty gives your son a better chance of having children when he grows up. After the problem is fixed, your son should have routine testicle exams with his doctor.
Adults are treated differently. In an adult, moving the testicle probably will not improve the ability to make sperm, so the testicle is usually taken out. Most doctors do not recommend treating an undescended testicle in men older than 40.
When to see a doctor
Contact your child's doctor if he appears to have an undescended testicle. A baby whose testicle has not moved down by six months should be seen by a doctor, because treatment may be needed. Treating it early gives a better chance of having children later in life and lets doctors check for cancer early.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child has sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body, including the groin or scrotum.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can check a baby at routine visits, refer you to a surgeon when treatment is needed, and help with follow-up checks afterward.
Common questions
Will an undescended testicle go down on its own?
Often it will. In most cases, the testicle moves down without treatment in the first few months of life. If it has not moved down by six months, it may need to be treated by a doctor.
Can an undescended testicle cause infertility?
Yes, it can. Testicles make sperm best in the cooler scrotum, so a testicle that stays inside the body may not make sperm. A baby boy can start to lose the ability to make sperm by 12 months of age. Early surgery may avoid infertility.
Does an undescended testicle raise the risk of cancer?
Yes, an undescended testicle is more likely to develop cancer, even if surgery brings it into the scrotum. Cancer is also more likely in the other testicle. A testicle in the scrotum is easier to feel, so a man or his doctor can find a tumor early.
What is a retractile testicle?
A retractile testicle is a normal testicle that a muscle reflex pulls back out of the scrotum. This happens because the testicles are still small before puberty. The testicle will come down on its own at puberty, and surgery is not needed.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
