Paediatrics
Orchidopexy in Nigeria
A testis that has not come down into the scrotum is brought down and fixed in place, through a small cut in the groin and a second in the scrotum. Done between six and eighteen months of age, it protects fertility most and makes the testis easy to check later in life. It is a day case for most boys.
Also called: Orchidopexy, Orchiopexy, Undescended testicle surgery
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Published price
₦550,000
Fixed all-in case rate, one side
Day case for most boys.
What the price covers
- Paediatric surgeon and anaesthetist
- Theatre time
- Closing the hernia sac that usually comes with an undescended testis
- A day bed, with a parent staying throughout
- The post-operative review at six weeks
What it does not cover
- The first consultation
- Keyhole surgery to find a testis that cannot be felt, which is quoted after examination
- Treating other conditions found during work-up
Related prices
Both sides, one admission
₦715,000
What would change this price
- Both sides, priced separately above
- A testis that cannot be felt, which needs keyhole surgery and sometimes two stages
- An overnight stay
If an HMO is paying, the case needs prior authorisation before admission. Bring your HMO number to the first consultation and the desk will start it. If the plan declines, you are told the cash price before anything is booked.
Who this is for
- A testis that is not in the scrotum by six months of age
- A testis that was down before and has since risen
- An older boy or man found to have an undescended testis, who still benefits from having it brought down or, sometimes, removed
When it is not the right answer
- A retractile testis, which comes down with warmth or gentle examination and only needs checking
- A baby under six months, particularly one born early, whose testis may still come down
- A testis that cannot be felt at all, which needs keyhole surgery and is priced differently
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Examination₦35,000
Done by feel. An ultrasound usually adds nothing and is not needed.
- 2
Anaesthetic review
Health checks and fasting times.
- 3
The operation
Forty five minutes to an hour under general anaesthetic, with a local block.
- 4
Home the same day
Once feeding and passing urine.
- 5
Review at six weeks and once more later₦25,000
To confirm the testis has stayed down and is growing.
Recovery, realistically
Day 1
Sleepy and sore. Simple painkillers.
Days 2 to 7
Some scrotal swelling and bruising. Loose clothing.
Week 2
Normal play. Avoid straddle toys and bikes for two weeks.
Risks you should be told about
- The testis drawing back up, sometimes needing a second operation
- The testis shrinking, uncommon
- Infection or bleeding
- Injury to the sperm tube, rare
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
Why not wait until he is older?
A testis left in the groin is too warm, and from the second year that begins to affect its ability to make sperm. Repair between six and eighteen months protects it most.
Will he be able to father children?
Most boys who have one side fixed have normal fertility. The outlook is less certain when both sides were undescended, which is a reason not to delay.
What if the testis cannot be felt at all?
Keyhole surgery looks for it inside the abdomen. Sometimes it is brought down in two stages. That is quoted separately after examination.
Does an undescended testis raise cancer risk?
Slightly. Bringing it down early makes it easy to check, and he should be taught to examine himself from his teens.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 11 October 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.