Yes, a baby’s testicles can go back up into the groin, and this movement is often normal but sometimes signals a problem that needs a doctor.
Hearing that your baby’s testicles seem to “disappear” can shock any parent. One day both testicles sit low in the scrotum, and the next day one looks higher or is hard to see. You might wonder if something has gone wrong, if your baby feels pain, or if this affects puberty and fertility later in life.
Can A Baby’s Testicles Go Back Up? Short Answer For Parents
Yes, testicles can go back up in babies and young boys. A small muscle called the cremaster pulls each testicle toward the body in response to touch, cold, or fear. This cremasteric reflex is strong in children, so testicles may ride high or even slip into the groin at times. In many boys the testicle then drops back into the scrotum when the child relaxes or warms up.
Doctors use a few terms for these patterns. A retractile testicle is one that moves between the groin and scrotum but can be gently brought down and will rest in the scrotum for a while. A truly undescended testicle never reached the scrotum at birth or cannot be moved there. An ascending testicle is one that was down earlier in life but has moved up and now no longer stays in the scrotum. Each pattern brings different risks and different plans for follow-up.
| Pattern | What Parents Usually See | Typical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Normal cremaster reflex | Testicles sit higher in cold rooms or during nappy changes | Normal muscle reaction; testicles settle when baby relaxes or warms |
| Retractile testicle | Testicle sometimes high, sometimes low; can be seen in scrotum in the bath | Common pattern in childhood; needs monitoring during routine check-ups |
| Undescended testicle | Testicle never seen in scrotum on that side | Needs assessment if still not in scrotum by about six months |
| Ascending testicle | Testicle was down as a baby, later seems stuck higher up | Acquired undescended testicle; often treated with planned surgery |
| Groin lump or bulge | Soft swelling in groin that comes and goes, especially with crying | May be an inguinal hernia; needs prompt medical review |
| Pain and swelling | Sudden scrotal pain, redness, baby very upset or vomiting | Possible torsion or severe infection; emergency care needed |
| Previous surgery | Scar in groin or scrotum with change in testicle position | Talk with the surgeon or pediatric urologist about any new change |
How Testicles Normally Move In Babies
Before birth, testicles develop inside the abdomen and then travel down through the groin into the scrotum. In many boys this path finishes before birth. In some, one or both testicles reach the scrotum only during the first few months of life. Medical guidance from groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics explains that if a testicle is still not in the scrotum by about six months of age, it is unlikely to come down on its own.
Even when both testicles are fully down, the cremaster muscle keeps them mobile. Cold air, a sudden touch on the inner thigh, or stress during a check-up can trigger that muscle to pull one or both testicles up toward the groin. This movement protects the testicles and is not a sign of damage on its own. Many parents also notice that testicles hang lower when a child sleeps or soaks in a warm bath.
Because this movement is so common, a single moment when a testicle rides high does not answer the question can a baby’s testicles go back up in a worrying way. Doctors pay more attention to patterns over time: whether the testicle can be seen and gently placed in the scrotum, whether it stays there for a short time, and whether the position changes as the child grows.
Retractile Testicles: When Going Back Up Is Usually Harmless
With a retractile testicle, the muscle reflex is strong enough to pull the testicle into the groin, but the testicle is healthy and fully developed. A clinician can gently bring it into the scrotum during an exam, and for a moment or longer it stays in the right spot. Information from centers such as the Cleveland Clinic notes that many boys grow out of retractile testicles as the cremaster reflex settles down during puberty.
Doctors usually review retractile testicles during regular check-ups. They watch for any change that suggests the testicle is staying up in the groin. Guidelines from bodies such as NICE and other pediatric groups recommend yearly review in boys with clearly retractile testicles, because a small number may later turn into ascending testicles that need treatment.
Signs That Fit Retractile Testicles
Retractile testicles often show the same pattern over months or years. The testicle can be felt and seen in the scrotum during a warm, relaxed moment. It may ride higher in cold or stressful situations but returns again without pain. Both sides of the scrotum usually look close in size when the child is relaxed.
Parents can gently watch during baths and nappy changes. If they can clearly see each testicle in the scrotum at least some of the time, and their child has no pain, retractile testicles are likely. Even in this setting, a regular check by the family doctor or pediatrician is still wise, because subtle changes can be hard to pick up at home.
When A Baby’s Testicles Go Back Up And Stay Up
Sometimes a testicle does not behave like a simple retractile testicle. It may never have reached the scrotum at all, or it may have been down earlier and then moved up and no longer comes back. These patterns fit undescended testicles or ascending testicles, both grouped under the medical term cryptorchidism.
Health agencies such as the NHS and the American Urological Association state that if a testicle has not settled into the scrotum by around six months of age, or if a once-descended testicle no longer stays down, a child should see a specialist. Surgery, called orchiopexy, is often planned between about six months and eighteen months of age to bring the testicle into the scrotum and stitch it in place. This timing helps protect fertility potential and lower long-term risks related to undescended testicles.
Parents sometimes ask again can a baby’s testicles go back up on their own after that age. Once a testicle is truly undescended or ascending, waiting usually does not solve the problem. That is why regular check-ups, careful records, and early referral to pediatric urology are so valuable.
| Child’s Age | Common Situation | Usual Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | One or both testicles not yet in scrotum | Record position; watch for movement over next months |
| 1–3 months | Testicles may still be moving down | Regular checks during routine visits |
| 4–6 months | Testicle still not in scrotum or cannot be kept there | Referral to pediatric surgery or urology |
| 7–12 months | Planned surgery for undescended or ascending testicle | Orchiopexy to bring and fix testicle in scrotum |
| Toddler and preschool | Retractile testicles common; some testicles ascend | Yearly checks; referral if testicle no longer rests in scrotum |
| School age | Ongoing review after earlier surgery or retractile testicles | Check size and position; plan late surgery if needed |
| Puberty | Cremaster reflex less active; testicles usually stay down | Teach self-exam and encourage prompt review of new changes |
Warning Signs That Need Same-Day Care
Most shifting testicles do not cause pain. Sudden pain, though, changes the picture. A tight, swollen, red scrotum with a distressed child, sometimes with vomiting or tummy pain, can signal testicular torsion. In torsion the testicle twists on its blood supply. This is a medical emergency and needs fast surgery to save the testicle.
Other red flags include a hard lump in the scrotum or groin, fever with scrotal swelling, or a baby who cannot be calmed and cries when the groin or scrotum is touched. Any of these signs deserve same-day medical review, ideally in an emergency department or urgent clinic.
What Parents Can Check At Home Safely
Parents do not need to carry out a full exam, but simple checks during care can help. During warm baths or relaxed nappy changes, gently look at the scrotum. Both sides should have some fullness, even if one hangs a bit higher than the other. If one side looks flat much of the time, mention this at the next appointment. This can help.
With clean, warm hands, a parent may gently feel the scrotum. A normal or retractile testicle feels like a small, smooth oval. Pressing hard is never needed. If the testicle slips away into the groin, pause and let your child relax; it may drift back down. If a testicle cannot be felt at all, or if touching the area causes clear pain, arrange medical review soon.
Questions To Ask Your Child’s Doctor
Practical Questions For The Visit
- Can you show me where each testicle sits now and how you can tell?
- Do my child’s findings match retractile testicles or an undescended or ascending testicle?
- At what age would you refer my child to a pediatric urologist or surgeon?
By asking clear questions and sharing what you see at home, you and your child’s doctor can work together to spot retractile testicles that are harmless, as well as undescended or ascending testicles that need treatment. With early review and timely care, most boys with issues related to testicle position grow up with normal day-to-day life, healthy puberty, and good long-term health.