The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Orchidopexy (or orchiopexy)
Surgery to move undescended testicles to their correct position in the scrotum.
What is an undescended testicle?
In the womb, a baby boy's testicles form within his abdomen before they descend into the scrota. Sometimes one testicle, or both, will remain inside the abdomen after birth.
An orchidopexy is a surgical procedure to correct the condition and return the testicle to its normal position in the scrotum.
Need to know
The operation is carried out under a general anaesthetic. Your child's consultant will usually carry out the procedure through a small incision on the groin and a small incision on the scrotum. This will free up the testicle and bring it down into the scrotum. If the consultant finds a small, underdeveloped testicle that is unlikely to function, they will usually remove it. The surgery usually takes between 45 minutes and one hour in the theatre.
Your child's consultant will talk you through the procedure, including any possible risks and side effects, they can all answer any questions you may have and let you know how long beforehand your child should avoid eating and drinking.
This surgical procedure is usually carried out as a day case so your child should be able to go home the same day.
You'll be advised on how to care for the area around the cuts, and when your child can return to their normal routine.
In older children, it's usual to go back to school about a week after this type of procedure, and they should avoid playing sports or riding a bicycle for six weeks.
Our Orchidopexy locations
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.