Retractile testicle

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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

You can help your son by being aware of the development of his body and talking to him about it.

  • Check the position of the testicles regularly during diaper changing or at bath time. Keep a record of changes.
  • Give your son the vocabulary to talk about the scrotum and testicles. Explain that there are usually two testicles in the scrotum.
  • When he's about to reach puberty — usually around sixth grade — and you're talking about what physical changes to expect, explain how he can check the testicles himself.
Coping and support Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Agarwal PK, et al. Retractile testis — Is it really a normal variant? Journal of Urology. 2006;175:1496.
  2. La Scala, et al. Retractile testes: an outcome analysis on 150 patients. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2004;39:1014.
  3. 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.
  4. Stec AA, et al. Incidence of testicular ascent in boys with retractile testes. Journal of Urology. 2007;178:1722.
  5. 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.
  6. Pettersson A, et al. Age at surgery for undescended testis and risk of testicular cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;356:1835.
  7. Charles JC. The fate of the retractile testicles. Journal of Urology. 2003;171:1237.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 15, 2010.
DS00742 June 15, 2010

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