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Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your son has a retractile testicle, he may be sensitive about his appearance. He may have anxieties about looking different from friends or classmates, especially if he has to undress in front of others in gym class. The following strategies may help him cope:
- Explain in simple terms what a retractile testicle is.
- Remind him that there's nothing wrong with him.
- Explain that the position of the testicle is something you, your son and his pediatrician will pay attention to and fix if necessary.
- Help him practice a response if he's teased or asked about the condition.
- Buy him loosefitting boxer shorts and swim trunks that may make the condition less noticeable when changing clothes and playing sports at school.
- Be aware of signs of anxieties, such as not participating in sports that he would normally enjoy.
References
- Agarwal PK, et al. Retractile testis — Is it really a normal variant? Journal of Urology. 2006;175:1496.
- La Scala, et al. Retractile testes: an outcome analysis on 150 patients. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2004;39:1014.
- Cooper CS, et al. Urology. In: Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Surgery. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5312459. Accessed March 10, 2010.
- Stec AA, et al. Incidence of testicular ascent in boys with retractile testes. Journal of Urology. 2007;178:1722.
- Anatomic disorders. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/188759382-2/966699837/1481/588.html?printi. Accessed March 11, 2010.
- Pettersson A, et al. Age at surgery for undescended testis and risk of testicular cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;356:1835.
- Charles JC. The fate of the retractile testicles. Journal of Urology. 2003;171:1237.
- Hack WW. Natural history and long-term testicular growth of acquired undescended testis after spontaneous descent or pubertal orchidopexy. BJU International. In Press. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Sandlow JI, et al. Surgery of the scrotum and seminal vesicles. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/188759382-2/966699837/1445/37.html?printin. Accessed March 11, 2010.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 15, 2010.
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