The Causes and Treatment of Undescended Testicles in a 9-Year-Old Boy

Question

Why does a 9-year-old boy basically not have testicles?

Answer

This condition may be cryptorchidism, a congenital developmental abnormality. Typically, a boy’s testicles descend into the scrotum after birth, but in cryptorchidism, one or both testicles fail to reach their normal position. This situation requires surgical treatment after the boy is two years old, but no later than three years old, to reduce the risk of testicular cancer later in life. After surgery, it is important to maintain good hygiene at the surgical site and avoid eating spicy or irritating foods.