First of all, it should be clear: “Retracted testicles are not cryptorchidism.” In my clinical work, anxious mothers often come to my clinic: “Dr. Lu, my child was diagnosed with cryptorchidism by the medical examiner during the physical examination, what should I do?” Some other parents come to my clinic and ask, “The ultrasound indicates that the testicles are located in the groin, is it cryptorchidism?” After careful examination, I told the parents, “The child has retracted testicles, don’t worry.” So, what is “retracted testicles”? As the name implies, it is caused by retraction of the testicles. It is caused by the child being nervous in front of strangers, crying, local irritation from the ultrasound probe or cold weather that causes the testicles to contract, thus lifting the testicles up to the groin or even higher. This is often most pronounced at the age of 5-6, and is relieved when secondary sexual characteristics begin at puberty. This condition is often seen during kindergarten physicals and has even been reported in 10% of children during group physicals. How to identify it? During the physical examination, try to be in a warm and comfortable environment where the child is calm, the examiner’s hands are warm, and words are gentle enough to distract the child. With one hand, slowly push the groin from top to bottom with the abdomen of the fingers, and with the other hand, touch the testicles from top to bottom in the scrotum. If the testicle can descend to the bottom of the scrotum without tension, and if the testicle can stay at the bottom of the scrotum without lifting when the hands are released, the diagnosis of retractile testicle can be considered and cryptorchidism can be excluded. It is also possible that the testicle can often descend to the bottom of the scrotum after the HCG injection test. It is believed that most of the children with cryptorchidism who are effective in hormone treatment are actually retractile testes. In fact, for children with sensitive epididymal muscles and easily retracted testes, careful parents can identify them by the following circumstances: if the testes can descend to the bottom of the scrotum when the child takes a bath after sleeping, cryptorchidism is often not considered; sitting with both lower limbs slightly apart during physical examination can also suppress the epididymal muscle reflex and make it easy to reach the testes, thus excluding cryptorchidism. Of course: eventually find an experienced pediatric urologist to help with the diagnosis, the correct diagnosis rate will be greatly improved.