Testicles

Testicles

'Balls' that hang inside a skin bag underneath a male's penis.

Scrotum

The skin bag that holds the testicles

Cancer

Abnormal growth of cells usually forming a lump

Slang

Balls, stones, family jewels, nuts, gonads, itchy and scratchie, goolies, nads, cojones (kahoonies)

Sperm

Microscopic male reproductive cells found in semen.

Testosterone

Hormone which causes male sex characteristics and sex drive.

Your testicles (two of them) make testosterone and sperm. They hang in a skin pouch (scrotum) to allow them to run cooler than your body temperature so they work properly. Notice when cold the testicles are up close to your body and when hot they are hanging low away from your body? That is the automatic temperature regulation system in operation to keep your testicles at the correct temperature.

Become familiar with the look, feel and shape of your testicles - this will help you notice anything wrong.

The characteristics of healthy testicles include:

• Each testicle feels like a smooth, firm egg.
• One testicle tends to hang lower than the other.
• One testicle may be slightly larger than the other.
• There is no pain or discomfort when the testicles and scrotum are handled gently.
• The testicles and scrotum will be pulled up close to your body when they are cold. They will be hanging down loose when hot. This is handled automatically to keep the testicles at the right temperature.

Guys know their testicles are there but never really have a close regular inspection. The reason you need to learn to check your testicles has to do with cancer detection. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer that occurs in young guys and can be cured easily if the cancer is detected early. The only way to detect cancer early is to regularly check your testicles.

This is a great page from Testicular Cancer Foundation how to check your testicles.

An Orchidometer is used by medical professionals to check for normal testicle size. For a non-medical assessment 'Adult testicles range in size from about 15 mL (similar to a bird egg) to 35 mL (similar to a small chicken egg)'.

Testicles begin life in the abdomen and descend into the scrotum while the baby is still in the mother's womb. Sometimes one or both testicles don't move into the scrotum and are regarded as missing - actually still up in the abdomen. You should see a doctor if this is you since complications can occur later in life if it is not fixed.

This can apply to guys or girls and is slang to mean 'having courage'. There are lots of ideas about how the connection came to be made but possibly came from the relationship between testicles producing testosterone which can cause aggression and risk taking.

Only another guy understands what it feels like to have the testicles hit by something - even lightly. The pain and discomfort is beyond words and goes right up through the whole body. If the pain does not go away after a reasonable period of time or new lumps or swelling appears, better to get a doctor to check it out.

Using performance supplements to build muscle mass, improve performance or make you more of a man is a decision that can come back to haunt you as you get older. When you take additional testosterone into your body, your testicles reduce their production since they sense your body has enough testosterone and they begin to shrink. They will never be the same again.

Don't ignore it if you think you might have a problem. Immediately swallow your pride and get medical advice. A doctor will examine your testicles and advise you if there is a problem. If testicular cancer is detected early in its development, then the cure rate is almost 100%. If there is a problem, the longer you leave it to go to the doctor, the less chance of total recovery.

The fears you need to overcome to go to the doctor are: the fear of the unknown; the fear of having to expose your private parts; the fear of having an erection when the doctor is examining you; fear of the consequences if cancer is diagnosed; fear of death; fear of what others will think; fear of losing control of your privacy.