In a newborn male with an undescended testicle and normal phallus, what is the recommended follow-up timeline?

• A. 3 months
• B. 6 months
• C. 1 year
• D. Immediately

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that testes can descend on their own in the early months of life, so initial management is watchful waiting rather than immediate intervention. In a healthy term newborn with one undescended testis, it’s appropriate to recheck its position around a few months of age to allow for spontaneous descent. A follow-up at about 3 months gives a window for natural movement of the testis to the scrotum. If the testis has not descended by about 3–6 months, referral for evaluation and planning a surgical correction (orchiopexy) around 6–12 months is typically pursued to protect future fertility and reduce malignancy risk. Immediate surgery isn’t warranted in a newborn who is otherwise healthy, and waiting until 1 year would miss the optimal window for timely correction if descent hasn’t occurred spontaneously.