Recovery & Support for Undescended Testicles

NYU Langone pediatric urologists offer guidance to the families of boys who have had surgery to correct undescended testicles. In addition, we offer child and family support services and resilience programs provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

The success rate for surgery to correct undescended testicles is greater than 96 percent. Treatment before age 2 is recommended to help lower a boy’s risk of developing changes in the testicle that can possibly result in infertility.

It is not known whether orchiopexy performed very early in life reduces the risk of testicular cancer, but the risk is known to be decreased if this surgery is performed prior to puberty.

Although surgery may reduce the risk of testicular cancer, it does not eliminate it. Our doctors recommend that boys learn how to perform a monthly testicular self-examination starting at puberty. If a boy notices a change in his testicles, doctors can perform an ultrasound to look for the cause. Testicular cancer is easily detected and highly treatable.

Our doctors understand that you may have concerns about your child’s reproductive health in the future. Fortunately, for men who had only one undescended testicle, fertility is similar to that of men who never had an undescended testicle.

Boys who have had surgery to correct two undescended testicles may experience infertility in adulthood, depending on the location of the testicles prior to surgery. For most men, it may mean waiting a little longer to achieve a pregnancy. Doctors at the NYU Langone Fertility Center and NYU Langone Reproductive Specialists of New York can help men explore options for starting a family when the time is right.

Resources for Undescended Testicles in Children
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