A Personal Account of Cryptorchidism: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Lasting Impact

A man has described his childhood experience with cryptorchidism, a condition where one testicle does not descend into the scrotum. According to his account, the condition was diagnosed at age 7 in the early 1980s and was resolved through manual medical procedures by age 13.

The author reports long-term physical and emotional effects from the experience, which he states has influenced his approach to parenting. His writing has appeared in several literary publications, and he is pursuing a graduate degree in creative nonfiction.

Understanding Cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is a medical condition involving one or both testicles not descending into the scrotum. The term originates from the Greek words for "hidden" and "testicle."

Medical data indicates the condition occurs in 2% to 8% of newborns.
Most cases involve one undescended testicle, often located in the inguinal canal.
When the condition is present at birth, it is termed cryptorchidism. When it occurs after birth, it may be described as an "ascending testicle" or "acquired undescended testicle."

According to medical sources, including the Mayo Clinic, having a testicle outside the scrotum is associated with increased health risks:

An elevated risk of testicular cancer.
An elevated risk of infertility.
A significantly greater risk of testicular torsion, with the Mayo Clinic reporting the risk is approximately 10 times higher.

Standard Medical Treatments

For unresolved cryptorchidism, standard medical treatments include:

Manual Manipulation: A physician may attempt to manually guide the testicle into the scrotum.
Surgical Intervention (Orchiopexy): If the condition does not resolve naturally or manually, a surgical procedure called orchiopexy may be performed. This involves making incisions in the groin and scrotum to create a pocket for the testicle. Medical professionals note the surgery has a high success rate.

A Personal Treatment Timeline

The author provided a detailed account of his treatment:

The condition was identified during a pediatric examination when he was 7 years old.
His pediatrician attempted manual manipulation to guide the testicle into the scrotum during multiple appointments. These attempts reportedly occurred when the author was 7, 9, and 10 years old.
A final manual procedure was performed when the author was 13 years old, one week before his bar mitzvah. He reported this attempt was successful and that the testicle remained in the scrotum afterward, avoiding the need for surgery.

Reported Long-Term Effects

The author described several long-term effects from the condition and its treatment.

Physical Effects:

He reported that an MRI scan in 2009 revealed a benign mass in his inguinal canal. He attributes this to the years his testicle resided in that location.

Emotional and Behavioral Effects:

The author stated the experience caused him distress during childhood and adolescence.
He reported developing anxiety about medical examinations and stated the experience affected his comfort with physical intimacy in later years.
He stated he avoided certain activities, such as swimming, due to concerns about the testicle's position.
In his mid-20s, he discussed the experience with a partner for the first time, which he reported was a significant step.

Parenting and Author Context

The author is now married with two children. He stated that his childhood experience has influenced his parenting approach, making him more attuned to his children's emotional states during medical appointments and more likely to offer them privacy.

The author, Brad Snyder, is pursuing a master's degree in creative nonfiction writing at Bay Path University. His writing has appeared in publications including River Teeth's Beautiful Things, Sweet Lit, Under the Gum Tree, The Gay & Lesbian Review, and Blue Earth Review. This account was previously published by HuffPost.