What is a retractile testicle?
There is a thin cremaster muscle that pulls the testicle up. In the cold, when the child is scared, or when the groin is touched, this muscle contracts and lifts the testicle toward the groin. This reflex is especially strong in boys between 1 and 7 years of age.
Such a testicle is sometimes not visible in the scrotum, but the doctor can easily bring it down into the scrotum and it stays there. This is called a retractile testicle. Parents sometimes call it a “shy testicle”.
How it differs from an undescended testicle
| Retractile testicle | Undescended testicle |
|---|---|
| Comes down into the scrotum without tension | Does not come down into the scrotum, or only under tension |
| Stays in the scrotum after release | Moves back up as soon as it is released |
| Often visible in a warm bath | Never visible in the scrotum |
| Usually needs no treatment | Needs surgery |
Why should it be followed?
Some retractile testicles move up as the child grows and may end up staying outside the scrotum permanently. This is called an ascending testicle, and in such cases orchiopexy is needed. That is why a child with a retractile testicle should be checked by a doctor once a year until puberty.
What to watch for at home
- check your child in a warm bath: is the testicle visible in the scrotum,
- if the testicle is not visible for a long time, even in a warm setting,
- if one testicle looks smaller than the other,
see a doctor. Read more about the undescended testicle.
Note for pediatricians and family doctors
A retractile testis can be brought manually without tension to the bottom of the scrotum and stays there for at least some time after release. Because these testes can later ascend (ascending testis), yearly examination until puberty is recommended. If the testis can only be brought into the scrotum under tension and retracts immediately, it should be managed as an undescended testis.
What happens at the visit?
- The child is examined in a warm, calm setting, in a squatting position when needed.
- We assess whether the testicle comes down into the scrotum easily, whether it stays there, and its size.
- The yearly check plan and what to watch for at home are explained.
Frequently asked questions
At home we sometimes can't see the testicle. Should we worry?
A retractile testicle pulls up in the cold, when the child is scared or when it is touched. If the testicle is visible in the scrotum when the child is relaxed in a warm bath, this is usually normal. If it is never visible even in the bath, show your child to a doctor.
Related topics
Sources
- EAU Guidelines on Paediatric Urology, 2025: Undescended testes (retractile testes).
This page is for education. Decisions about your child’s treatment are made together with the doctor after an examination.