Undescended testicles do not cause pain or any other symptoms. In some cases there can be physical signs, such as not being able to feel the testicles.
Undescended testicles are broadly grouped into two categories:
- palpable undescended testicles (the testicle(s) can be felt during a physical examination)
- unpalpable undescended testicles (the testicle(s) cannot be felt during a physical examination)
Palpable undescended testicles
Palpable undescended testicles are the most common type and account for 80% of all cases.
In most cases, palpable undescended testicles are located just above the scrotum. They are lodged at the end of the inguinal canal (a channel that runs from the lower abdomen down towards the penis and scrotum).
Unpalpable undescended testicles
There are three main types of unpalpable undescended testicles.
Abdominal or intra-abdominal
An abdominal, or intra-abdominal, testicle occurs when the testicle is located inside the abdomen, usually close to the upper opening of the inguinal canal. This accounts for 40% of cases.
Inguinal
An inguinal testicle is a testicle that has moved into the inguinal canal, but has not moved far enough down towards the scrotum to be detected during a physical examination. This type accounts for 40% of cases.
Atrophic or absent
An atrophic testicle is a testicle that is abnormally small. An absent testicle is where one testicle has never been created during a baby’s development inside the womb. This type accounts for 20% of cases.
Both atrophic and absent testicles can have a variety of causes.
Read more about the causes of undescended testicles.
