As a baby boy grows inside the uterus, he develops testicles.
At first, they're in his belly.
Then before he is born, the testicles move down into the scrotum, the sac below the penis.
But sometimes, a testicle doesn't move down.
This is called an undescended testicle.
If it doesn't move down on its own, orchiopexy surgery can fix it.
And it's usually done by the time the baby is 18 months old.
Before the surgery, your baby will get medicine so he won't feel anything during the procedure.
Depending on where the undescended testicle is, the surgery can be done in several ways.
No matter how your baby's surgery is done, the same basic thing happens.
The doctor carefully moves the testicle into the scrotum.
At the end of surgery, the doctor closes the cuts, called incisions, with surgical glue or strips of surgical tape.
Your baby will likely go home a few hours after surgery.
Before the surgery, follow your doctor's directions for preparing your baby, including when your baby should stop eating and drinking.
Bring your photo ID and any other paperwork your hospital may have asked for.
The surgery may be stressful for you.
But knowing what to expect and how to prepare can help.
Recovery and healing take time.
But if you have any questions or concerns, you can always call your doctor.
