Examination of the Newborn: The Key Skills 4. The Testes

Abstract

As the role of the midwife continually evolves and expands, midwives are increasingly performing the examination of the newborn. With a focus and national drive on providing continuity of care in conducting the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE), many midwives view this assessment as a natural extension to their role1 and continually strive to provide high-quality, individualised care. In the penultimate edition of this five-part series, we consider the importance of the examination of the testes in the screening process. The significance of relevant history taking, knowledge of risk factors and a detailed examination of the testes will be explored, along with referral pathways in line with the requirements of the national screening programme. The impact of late detection and poor referral of undescended testes on the lives of children and adults will also be considered.