Which term means absence of a testis

In order for testicles to develop and function normally, they need to be slightly cooler than normal body temperature. The scrotum provides this cooler environment. Complications of a testicle not being located where it is supposed to be include:. Testicular cancer. Testicular cancer usually begins in the cells in the testicle that produce immature sperm.

What causes these cells to develop into cancer is unknown. Men who've had an undescended testicle have an increased risk of testicular cancer. The risk is greater for undescended testicles located in the abdomen than in the groin, and when both testicles are affected. Surgically correcting an undescended testicle might decrease, but not eliminate, the risk of future testicular cancer. Testicular torsion. Testicular torsion is the twisting of the spermatic cord, which contains blood vessels, nerves and the tube that carries semen from the testicle to the penis.

This painful condition cuts off blood to the testicle. If not treated promptly, this might result in the loss of the testicle. Testicular torsion occurs 10 times more often in undescended testicles than in normal testicles. Undescended testicle care at Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. For this reason, all boys should have the location of their testicles checked during each annual physical exam.

A testicle that can't be felt in a physical exam is called "nonpalpable. It's important to find out whether there is a testicle that hasn't dropped. An undescended testicle left inside the abdomen could form a tumor later in life.

Such a tumor might not be noticed until it becomes quite large or causes symptoms. Unfortunately, there's no test, such as an ultrasound, that can definitively show whether a testicle is there. Surgery is the only way to find out for sure.

Pediatric urologists are experts in both open and laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy is surgery done through thin tubes put into your child's body through a small cut. The surgeon uses a special camera to see inside your child's body. The surgeon will find one of 3 situations:. The testicle won't drop after 3 months of age, so the only treatment choice is surgery.

Surgery is recommended after 6 months of age. The timing takes into account when the child is able to handle anesthesia and the surgery. Drugs or hormone treatment aren't useful.

This surgery is called an orchiopexy. The child is put under general anesthesia for this surgery. Almost always the child can go home the same day and is back to normal within 1 to 2 days. A cut about 1 inch long is made in the groin area most often it can hardly be seen later. The testicles is freed from all nearby tissues so that it moves easily into the scrotum.

Then it is stitched into place. If there's a hernia, it's fixed at the same time. In some cases, the testicle is too high for this simple surgery. If this is the case, more complex methods and sometimes even 2 surgeries are needed. Overall, the success rate with surgery is 98 out of After treatment, the testicle often grows to normal size in the scrotum. In some cases, the testicle wasn't normal to start with, and never grows the right way. In other cases, sperm never grow, even though the testicle size is normal.

Updated by: Kelly L. Editorial team. Anorchia is the absence of both testes at birth. Genetic factors may be involved in some cases. Symptoms may include: Normal outside genitals before puberty Failure to start puberty at the correct time. Exams and Tests. Treatment includes: Artificial prosthetic testicle implants Male hormones androgens Psychological support.

Outlook Prognosis. Possible Complications. Complications include: Face, neck, or back abnormalities in some cases Infertility Psychological issues due to gender identification. When to Contact a Medical Professional. Call your health care provider if a male child: Appears to have extremely small or absent testicles Does not seem to be starting puberty during his early teens.