child born without testicles

My 16 month old son was born without both testicles. He had implants inserted at nine months old. This is where the urologist found the remnants of his testicles. From what I was told by endocrinologist and urologist, there was what they described as a "kink in the water hose" while he was in my belly. He's doing great with his new implants, despite his scrotum still being so small so one implant is a little higher than the other so we occasionally have to move the implants around so they can get in their place eventually.

Hi I hope you still can read this ... as you posted over a year ago so I doubt it... BUT ! I just want to say I am 27 year old and was born with my testicles tangled inside of me and they disappeared .. I take testosterone monthly via a shot .. it sucks yes and I hated learning about all of it but I'm good ! Don't be worried about your child he will be okay :)

hi

Hopefully you see this are their any support groups that help to deal with this topic my son lost both his testicles due to torsion shortly after birth and id love to find some support or guidance on the topic

Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. I'm struggling with the decision to put in implants and our doctor has recommended starting now (my son is 3). I keep feeling like it should be his choice and that God made him this way so I want him to accept his situation and understand that he's perfect the way he is. Reading your comments helped me. I think we should wait on implants the risks of surgery, etc and this is how God made him. He's such a beautiful boy and spirit. Thank you and God bless.

hi my son has a ptoblem with his testicals he has half a testical and no scrotum he has had many operations to fix it but he is in constant pain every day and has many iches and rashes on his right testical what do i do ?

Hi ,
My child was also born with undecended testes the right one is shrivel and abnormal and the left one has not been found he is 11 years old and it's very hard for him it eats me up inside everyday. He's very healthy but he has his days especially the days when I has swimming he cries whenever he thinks about it and often ask why is he so different and why that has to happen to him ... it's very difficult for me as a parent also I just want you all know that your not alone and reading some of you all comments gives me some sort of comfort that am not alone in this situation also ... I guess God has his reasons why our son's but I don't question him but only pray that he comforts my son through it all ...

Hello everybody,

I know that some other people have posted here already, but I wanted to give some info too, as per living without testicles.

I was born with testicular torsion, and neither testicle was able to be saved, due to lack of blood flow. Growing up was not hard for me, although I only ever told my closest friends about it. This state of being really continued up until middle school when two things happened. First, I had surgery to put in two fake testes (so as to provide the "normal" appearance, and second, I began to receive shots of depotestosterone or testosterone-cypionate. This has been one of the hardest things for me to do, due to my fear of needles, but if you teach your children how to give themselves shots (practicing on oranges is probably the best way to go), I think it will help a lot with both the idea of controlling their own body/life, and with future injections when they have grown up, and left the nest. The other problem, of course, is a mental one: "How do we grow to be comfortable in who we are, for what we have?". Working with this was a joint effort. I cannot say how much my parents helped me become comfortable with who I was. They spoke to me daily, answered any questions I had without reserve, and always linked other problems in my life to my lack of testosterone. Lack of energy, mood swings, shame, embarrassment, and any other seemingly mundane issues were taken seriously, and led to talking that served to normalize it. This, combined with my telling my friends, has led me to be very comfortable with talking about my testicular torsion, with practically anybody (I mean, not in ANY situation, since sometimes it's JUST not polite to talk about such things, apparently!). And that right there is key, or at least it was to me. Please, PLEASE, P.L.E.A.S.E. keep your children aware, as they grow up that missing testes does not make them less, or different than any other child. Other children will accept yours if they approach them in a strong, and confident way, and the more friends they make that they can be open with about this, the better it will be for them.

Sorry for the length of this, but it is an issue that has shaped my life, and one that is on my mind daily (or weekly, really, since that's how often I take my shots). If any of you have any questions about living without testes, please feel free to respond, and if any of your sons would like to talk to somebody who has lived with this, also please feel free to let me know, and I can answer any questions (except for the technical ones, of course).

Cheers,

Nic

Stay please contact me. my son was born without testes too. I'm happy to talk.

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Has your son been able to lead a normal life associated with sports at this point? Are their any mother's whos son's have decended testicles or a testicle that is still there only serving the purpose of getting him through puberty? Or hopes of removing sperm from it to fertilze his possible future children? Help please.

Hey there. My 3 year old p went through surgery yesterday in hopes to pull down undecended testicles. When in surgery, the doctor found what he knows to be 2 very small, abnormal testicles. He did a biopsy and we are awaiting the results to know whether or not what he found are in fact testicles are that producing testosrone . If there is at minuum 1 cell indicating they are testicles, then he said he will leave them inside of him in hopes that they will produce sperm and help get him through puberty. He did advise or health reasons that he will never be able to move them into the sack. If the test results come!e back, and we have to move forward with removing them entirely, my question is Will he lead a normal life as far as atheltics, puberty etc? Will the hormone/testosterone shots be what he needs to live a normal, healthy, male life? I worry about his self esteem.. but more importantly his safety. If leaving them in there being abnormal would cause health issues, I want to know as a mother if I am making the smartest decsious for my son by removing them. Would appreciate any and all responses. Thank you

Have you found any support groups to help us as parents? Like what to tell our sons and how to get the best info? We are starting this process with our 10 year old son now.

He will most definitely be able to lead a normal life, as far as athletics are concerned. I was never a wonderful athlete myself (due mainly to my overwhelming love of fantasy books!), but I was first doubles on our tennis team (which won our division), and am still an avid fan of badminton and table tennis (and pretty much any other racket sport you throw me into).

The testosterone shots are very important, although there are also alternatives being developed now (creams, gels, etc), and I would definitely recommend starting the training (getting him used to) giving himself shots (on oranges, chicken breasts, etc). I only just got used to giving myself shots, and my fear of needles has lead to problems in the past (this summer I actually began to grow small breasts, due to an overwhelming fear, which isn't even addressing psychological effects). The shots do everything that the testes would though (apart from allowing you to have children, etc).

Self-esteem is my main issue, and I can't say for certain if that is because of my testicular torsion, or just natural (un-testes related?) psychological issues. What I can say is that growing up, I didn't really think much about it, but going into Middle School, when I started injections, it became a lot more of an issue. I still didn't worry too much about it, because of my friends acceptance of me for who I was. In short, thinking about my missing testes never caused me self-esteem problems, but I don't know what my body chemistry influenced, in terms of that. Finding friends who I could talk to about this (and my dad earlier, and sister now) made it so that even if I was feeling down, I had people who could boost me up again.

IN CONCLUSION! I think that removing them, if necessary, is an option that will have lasting effects, but they aren't going to be life ruining, or even that harmful, as long as forethought and care are used. Preparation, and steady support will help with most negative psychological side-effects, and if you give your son the chance to do any activities (rather, let him find his limits for sports and the like, rather than constantly warning him away from them), then he'll be just fine. The most difficulty will most likely come when injections begin. Puberty will really begin then, and I can't really say much for that, except that having friends also going through puberty at the same time, was quite helpful. OH, and when you begin injections, I would recommend having them once a week. I did once every two weeks at the start, and that just lets the serum build up, and then die down in time for the next shot. Once a week keeps it at a steady level.

I hope this helps, and that I didn't just confuse things more.

And thank-you for putting all this thought and love into your son. That's the MOST important thing!

It's a little late, but Dr. Mauseth in Seattle is wonderful to talk to about athletics. He has a whole wall of posters with famous athletes who have testicular torsion, hormone imbalances, etc. etc. He'd probably be able to help a lot.

My son is now 8 years old, and when he was 2, we discovered his testicles as well had knotted up, shriveled up and died off. I can relate to both of your feelings concerns and fears. When I came on the internet to research this, there wasn’t much information on it, now more people are speaking out and I am really grateful to no longer feel alone in this. I have decided to not stress over what my son can not have but to celebrate what he does and will have in his future! I have also decided that I will let him decide if he wants the fake testies put in. My son is a goof ball so I could see him not wanting them! But I would love it if there was a support group for parents, I had so many feelings rush through me it was hard to deal with. I would just like support outside my family

Hi Dr. Jon. My son will soon be 5 years he was born with nor testicles. 24 hrs after birth they were seen using the altural sound, the doctor advice us to go Home that it will decent by himself and that was because we were in Africa it was some how strange we were so scare, now he Will be 5 and Another test was done it completely missing. I use to feel some thing especially when i put him to bath in warm water i feel them by touching down they and i can see the sack look abit bigger as compare to when he bath in cold water they look flat. Am so worry why they could not find it during the altural sound test. Please i need ur advice