What are Undescended Testicles (Cryptorchidism)? ... An undescended testicle (​or "testis") is when it fails to drop into the normal place in the scrotum. Your child's​ ...AUASummit-WhatareUndescendedTesticles(Cryptorchidism)?AdvertisementUrologyA-ZCryptorchidism  InThisSectionCryptorchidismCausesDiagnosisTreatmentAfterTreatmentFrequentlyAskedQuestionsAdvertisementAdvertisementWhatareUndescendedTesticles(Cryptorchidism)?Anundescendedtesticle(or"testis")iswhenitfailstodropintothenormalplaceinthescrotum.Yourchild'shealthcareprovidercanfindthisduringaroutineexam.Thisissueisfoundinabout3or4outof 100newborns(andupto21outof100prematurenewborns).Luckily,abouthalfofthesetesticleswilldropontheirownduringthefirst3monthsoflife.Buttesticleswon'tdropontheirownafter3monthsofage.Thus,about1or2outof100boyswithundescendedtesticleswillneedtreatment.IllustrationofCryptorchidismEnlargeIt'simportantnottoconfuseundescendedtesticleswith"retractile"testicles.After6monthsofage,amalechildhasareflexthattemporarilypullsthetesticlesuptoprotectthemwhenhe'scoldorfrightened.Thesetesticlesareinthescrotumatothertimesanddon'tneedtreatment.Onlytesticlesthataretrulyundescendedneedtreatment.Apediatricurologistcantellthedifferencewithaphysicalexam.Thetesticlesneedtobe2to3degreescoolerthannormalbodytemperaturetomakesperm.Thescrotumismanydegreescoolerthanbodytemperature,andsoistheidealplaceforthetesticle.Testiclesthatdon'tdropintothescrotumwon'tworknormally.Thelongerthetesticlesaretoowarm,thelowerchancesarethatthesperminthattesticlewillmaturenormally.Thiscanbeacauseofinfertility,especiallywhenbothtesticlesareaffected.Undescendedtesticlesarealsolinkedtoahigherriskof:Testicularcancerinadulthood(thoughtheriskisstilllessthan1in100)Testiculartorsion(twistingofthechordthatbringsbloodtothescrotum)DevelopingahernianearthegroinSeeMore  SeeLess  WhatHappensunderNormalConditions?Thetesticles(or"testes")are2organsthathanginapouch-likeskinsac(thescrotum)belowthepenis.Thetesticlesarewherespermandtestosterone(themalesexh