Undescended testicles can usually be diagnosed after a physical examination. This will determine whether the testicles can be felt near the scrotum (palpable) or if they can't be felt at all (impalpable).
Your testicles will grow in the early stages of puberty, between the ages of 10 to 13. As your testicles grow, the skin around the scrotum -- the sac that holds the testicles -- will darken, hang down, and begin to develop hair.
Testicles form in the abdomen during fetal development. During the final months of development, the testicles gradually descend into the scrotum. If this descent isn't completed at birth, the testicle usually descends within a few months.
As a person ages, the testicles will generally sag much more. The process may not be noticeable at first, but by the age of 50 years, most people will notice a drastic difference in how much their balls sag.
In about half of the boys born this way, the testicle will descend into place on its own. This often happens within the first 3-6 months of life. If they don't descend after 6 months, they should see a pediatric urologist and treatment may be needed.
The testicles should feel smooth, without any lumps or bumps, and firm but not hard. You may feel a soft tube at the back of each testicle, which is called the epididymis. If you notice any changes or anything unusual about your testicles, you should see a GP.
Along with all the common areas, like the chin or eyelids, most men will notice that their balls start to sit a little lower than in their younger years. In most cases, this is totally normal, says Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D. and urologist at Orlando Health.
Most adult males have two testicles, and each typically measures around 4 x 3 x 2 centimeters (cm). However, testicle size can vary. It is also common to have one testicle that is smaller than the other.
Swollen testicles (also known as scrotal swelling) can be a sign of a variety of things, including injury, infection or a testicular tumor. If you have swollen testicles, they appear larger and may be red or shiny. You may notice a lump, but you may also have swelling with no lump.
Mean testicular volumes at birth, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 18 years were 1.8, 1.8, 3.3, 15.3, and 24.1 ml, respectively. Similar to the SPL, greater increase was seen at 9 years and growth continued till 18 years. Testicular length was 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 3.4, and 4.3 cm at birth, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 18 years, respectively.
“Sometimes the scrotum has enough slack that one's testicles can dip into the toilet water when seated if the water level is particularly high or the toilet particularly shallow.
The darkening of testicles can be due to several causes such as pooling of blood, inflammation, skin infections, fungal infections, and some diseases which may lead to the formation of dark spots. The symptoms and treatment of the cause of darkening depends on the underlying disease of the condition.
Symptoms and Causes
Severe pain in your scrotum (the sac that holds your testicles). Bruising in your scrotum. Swelling in your scrotum. Pain and discomfort in your lower abdomen.
A healthy testicle has a firm and smooth surface, but doesn't feel hard. You might have one testicle slightly bigger than the other. This is normal. It's also normal for one testicle to hang slightly lower than your other one.
If your scrotum looks or feels like it's full of fluid on one or both sides, you may have a hydrocele. A hydrocele may be caused by inflammation or injury but it's not usually painful.
Calcifications: These are small structures in the testicle or along the main sperm pipeline (vas) can become hard, almost rock like. These are always painless and rarely need to be removed.
With no blood, the testicle could die (or "infarct"). When the testes die, the scrotum will be very tender, red, and swollen. Often the patient won't be able to get comfortable. Any pain or discomfort in the testes is a sign to get medical help right away.
Wash Your Balls Every Day
Left unchecked, your undercarriage can become an all-you-can-eat buffet for germs. “[Washing] will help remove excess oils and dirt that can build up,” says Zampella. Bacteria and fungus thrive on these oils and, if they are allowed to grow, cause bad odor and infection.
Normal Testicle Characteristics
Adult testicles are roughly 2 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. Testicles can be different in size but will usually be of the same or similar shape.