Risk factors

Factors that might increase the risk of an undescended testicle in a newborn include:

• Low birth weight
• Premature birth
• Family history of undescended testicles or other problems of genital development
• Conditions of the fetus that can restrict growth, such as Down syndrome or an abdominal wall defect
• Alcohol use by the mother during pregnancy
• Cigarette smoking by the mother or exposure to secondhand smoke
• Parents' exposure to some pesticides