During the development of a male fetus in the womb, the testicles do not develop directly in the scrotum, but first develop in the abdominal cavity. As the fetus grows older, the testicles will gradually descend to the scrotum along a tube (inguinal canal), and generally the testicles have already descended to the scrotum and settled down by the time of birth. For a few boys, especially those born prematurely, one or both testes have not yet had time to descend into the scrotum at birth, and most of them will gradually complete the process of testicular “moving” in the first month after birth. However, for some male babies, the process of testicle moving is affected by various factors, and the testicles will never descend into the scrotum, and the scrotum that should have testicles is empty, which is medically known as cryptorchidism. “What happens if the testicles don’t move successfully? The testicles are the organs that synthesize sperm. If a child’s testicles do not descend, especially if they remain in the abdominal cavity (where the temperature is higher) until he is over two years old, there is a great risk that he will not have the opportunity to become a father in the future, and the risk of testicular tumors in adulthood will also increase. How parents can check their baby boy’s “balls” a. When the room temperature is warm enough, the child lies flat on the bed or sits up with his legs spread outward. b. Parents should keep their hands warm and avoid the heat of the bed. b. Parents should keep their hands warm to avoid cold stimulation causing testicular retraction when touching. c. At the same time, use both hands to touch both sides of the scrotum for testicles. If the child has cryptorchidism, the scrotum will look small and underdeveloped, and if there is only one cryptorchidism, both scrotums will look asymmetric. d. If you can’t touch the testicle or if the testicle retracts, you need to consult a specialist in time to learn about the next step in the treatment plan from your doctor. How to bring the lost balls home? Usually, if the testicles have not descended into the scrotum by the age of half to one year, treatment should be considered. Most children with cryptorchidism require surgery. Some “balls” are not completely lost but just hide and seek Most boys’ testicles, although descended, usually stay in the scrotum but may “hide and seek” in certain situations, for example, when they are excited or cold, they may temporarily “disappear” and hide in the abdomen. For example, in times of excitement or cold, the testicles may temporarily “disappear” and hide in the inguinal canal. Most of the testicles in this case will gradually get better when they grow up, but it is also recommended to consult a doctor for specialized examination. Tips: specialties have specialties, remember to hang “pediatric urology” for specialists to check and diagnose, just hang a pediatric number may make you have to run more errands, if some hospitals do not have a single “pediatric urology”, you can hang “pediatric surgery”, “pediatric surgery”. If some hospitals do not have a separate “pediatric urology department,” they can call the “pediatric surgery department.