{"id":1623,"date":"2026-04-07T05:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T05:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/undescended-testis-children-egypt\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T06:28:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:28:00","slug":"undescended-testis-children-egypt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/undescended-testis-children-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"Undescended Testis (Cryptorchidism) in Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Undescended Testis (Cryptorchidism) in Children<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Expert Paediatric Surgery | Professor Mohamed Elbarbary, FRCSEd \u2014 Cairo University<\/em><\/p>\n

Undescended testis \u2014 known medically as cryptorchidism \u2014 is one of the most common conditions Professor Mohamed Elbarbary treats. As a Cairo University Professor of Paediatric Surgery with over 36 years of experience and holder of the FRCSEd Fellowship (Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 2026), Prof. Elbarbary has performed hundreds of orchidopexies (the operation to bring the testis down) using open and laparoscopic techniques.<\/p>\n

If your son has been found to have one or both testes that have not descended into the scrotum, this page will explain the condition clearly and help you understand the next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n

\u2605 Why early treatment matters:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Surgery is recommended by 12\u201318 months to protect fertility<\/p>\n

\u2022 Laparoscopy for impalpable testes \u2014 Prof. Elbarbary offers both open and keyhole approaches<\/p>\n

\u2022 Cairo University specialist | FRCSEd 2026 | 36+ years experience<\/p>\n

\u2022 International patients welcome from the Gulf, Iraq, Libya, and beyond<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

What Is an Undescended Testis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During fetal development, the testes form inside the abdomen and gradually descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum, completing their journey before or shortly after birth. In undescended testis, one or both testes fail to reach their normal position in the scrotum. The testis may be located anywhere along the path of descent \u2014 in the abdomen, the inguinal canal, or just outside the scrotum \u2014 or, in some cases, may be absent (called a vanishing testis).<\/p>\n

Undescended testis affects approximately 3\u20134% of full-term boys at birth, rising to about 30% in premature infants. By 3 months of age, spontaneous descent occurs in many cases, bringing the prevalence down to approximately 1%. Testes that have not descended by 6 months are very unlikely to do so spontaneously.<\/p>\n

Why Treatment Is Important<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u2022 Fertility: The testis needs the cooler temperature of the scrotum for normal sperm production. Prolonged retention in a warmer location damages the sperm-producing cells. Surgery before 18 months significantly improves long-term fertility outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Cancer risk: Men with a history of undescended testis have a higher risk of testicular cancer (germ cell tumour) than the general population. While the absolute risk remains low, bringing the testis to the scrotum allows it to be self-examined and monitored.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Psychological wellbeing: A visibly empty scrotum can cause anxiety and self-consciousness as a child grows. Early correction prevents this.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Associated conditions: Undescended testis is often associated with an inguinal hernia on the same side, which can be repaired at the same operation.<\/p>\n

When Should Surgery Be Performed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current international guidelines \u2014 including those of the European Association of Urology Paediatric Urology guidelines \u2014 recommend orchidopexy (surgical fixation of the testis in the scrotum) between 6 and 18 months of age, with most specialists aiming for 12 months.<\/p>\n

If your son is older than 18 months and has not yet been treated, surgery is still strongly recommended and should not be deferred. Every month of delay beyond the recommended window represents continued risk to fertility.<\/p>\n

The Orchidopexy Operation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For a palpable undescended testis (felt in the groin)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A small incision is made in the groin. The testis and its blood supply are carefully mobilised to give adequate length. A small pouch is created in the scrotum and the testis is placed inside and secured with absorbable sutures. The operation takes approximately 45\u201360 minutes and is performed as a day case under general anaesthesia.<\/p>\n

For an impalpable testis (cannot be felt on examination)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the testis cannot be felt, it may be inside the abdomen (intra-abdominal), very high in the canal, or absent. Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) is the gold standard for impalpable testes: a small camera is inserted through the navel under general anaesthesia, allowing Prof. Elbarbary to directly visualise the abdominal cavity and locate the testis. Depending on what is found:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Testis found near the internal ring: can often be brought down in a single laparoscopic orchidopexy<\/p>\n

\u2022 Testis high in the abdomen: a staged approach (Fowler-Stephens technique) may be used \u2014 first laparoscopy to divide the testicular vessels, followed 6 months later by the orchidopexy<\/p>\n

\u2022 Absent testis (vanishing testis): confirmed laparoscopically; no further surgery is required, and a prosthesis can be considered at an older age if desired<\/p>\n

Recovery After Orchidopexy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u2022 Day case surgery \u2014 most boys go home the same day<\/p>\n

\u2022 Mild discomfort managed with standard paediatric pain relief<\/p>\n

\u2022 Avoid baths and strenuous activity for 2 weeks<\/p>\n

\u2022 Follow-up at 4\u20136 weeks to confirm testicular position and healing<\/p>\n

\u2022 Long-term testicular self-examination is encouraged from puberty onwards<\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Can undescended testis cause infertility?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If left untreated or treated late, yes. The testis depends on scrotal temperature for spermatogenesis. Research consistently shows that orchidopexy performed before 18 months preserves fertility significantly better than surgery performed later. Boys with a unilateral undescended testis who are treated on time usually have normal fertility. Those with bilateral undescended testes have a greater risk of reduced fertility regardless of treatment, but early surgery maximises the chance of a good outcome.<\/p>\n

Is the operation done with a camera (laparoscopy) or open surgery?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Both approaches are offered by Prof. Elbarbary. For a testis that can be felt (palpable), open surgery through a small groin incision is the standard approach. For a testis that cannot be felt (impalpable), laparoscopy is used first to find the testis and then to perform the repair. The approach is tailored to each child.<\/p>\n

My son is 4 years old \u2014 is it too late for surgery?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It is never "too late" for surgery, but the outcome for fertility improves significantly with earlier treatment. If your son has not yet had surgery, we strongly recommend booking a consultation as soon as possible. Surgery at any age is better than no surgery, and the testicular cancer risk benefit of orchidopexy applies regardless of when it is performed.<\/p>\n

Will the scar be visible?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The groin incision used for orchidopexy is small (2\u20133 cm) and placed in the natural skin crease, where it becomes barely visible within a few months. Laparoscopic incisions are even smaller. Long-term scarring is minimal.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Book a Consultation with Prof. Elbarbary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cairo University Specialist | FRCSEd 2026 | 36 Years Experience<\/p>\n

drmohamedelbarbary.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

drmohamedelbarbary.com | Cairo University \u2014 Kasr Al-Ainy | FRCSEd 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Undescended Testis (Cryptorchidism) in Children Expert Paediatric Surgery | Professor Mohamed Elbarbary, FRCSEd \u2014 Cairo University Undescended testis \u2014 known medically as cryptorchidism \u2014 is one of the most common conditions Professor Mohamed Elbarbary treats. As a Cairo University Professor of Paediatric Surgery with over 36 years of experience and holder of the FRCSEd Fellowship […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"difl_page_category":[],"class_list":["post-1623","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1623"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1634,"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1623\/revisions\/1634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"difl_page_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drmohamedelbarbary.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/difl_page_category?post=1623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}