Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNormal FeaturesAbnormal FeaturesTesticle ConditionsSelf-ExaminationTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Normal Features
Abnormal Features
Testicle Conditions
Self-Examination
Treatment
This article covers the anatomy of testicles and why they can be of different sizes. It also goes over conditions that can affect testicles, how to do a testicular self-exam, and when to see a healthcare provider.
Normal Testicle Characteristics
How testicles look and feel can vary from person to person, but normal testicles tend to have some specific characteristics.
Asymmetrical testicles are not uncommon and are usually not a problem. In some cases, the testicles are different sizes because the right testicle of a fetus finishes developing before the left one.
At the other end of the aging spectrum, the testicles tend to decrease in size as a person gets older (atrophy).This shrinkage usually happens on both sides (bilateral). However, similar to the way in which one testicle might grow a little faster than the other during puberty, it’s possible that one testicle (unilateral) might appear to shrink a little faster than the other in older age.
Average Penis Size and What’s Considered Big
Abnormal Testicle Characteristics
Having one testicle that is bigger than the other does not necessarily mean there’s a problem. However, if you also have these signs and symptoms, you should tell your provider.
Signs of a possible testicle-related health concern include:
Testicular Pain Causes and Treatment
Conditions That Can Cause Testicle Changes
There are some different exams and tests that providers can use to figure out what’s causing a problem with a testicle. Possible conditions a provider will look for include:
When to Call 911Testicular torsion is an emergency. It can cut off (strangulate) blood flow to a testicle, which can lead to the loss of the testicle. Get emergency medical attention if you have these signs and symptoms:Sudden, severe scrotum painSwelling of the scrotumA testicle that is suddenly positioned higher or at an unusual angleAbdominal painNausea and vomitingFrequent urinationFever
When to Call 911
Testicular torsion is an emergency. It can cut off (strangulate) blood flow to a testicle, which can lead to the loss of the testicle. Get emergency medical attention if you have these signs and symptoms:Sudden, severe scrotum painSwelling of the scrotumA testicle that is suddenly positioned higher or at an unusual angleAbdominal painNausea and vomitingFrequent urinationFever
Testicular torsion is an emergency. It can cut off (strangulate) blood flow to a testicle, which can lead to the loss of the testicle. Get emergency medical attention if you have these signs and symptoms:
Testicular Self-Examination
Atesticular self-examis a method to check yourself for lumps, pain, or other unusual changes in your testicles. A self-check is commonly used as a preventive tool for testicular cancer.
Verywell / JR Bee
To do a testicular self-exam:
RecommendationsThe American Society of Clinical Oncologists recommends monthly self-exams between the ages of 15 and 55 to detect any changes that could enable the early diagnosis of testicular cancer.
Recommendations
The American Society of Clinical Oncologists recommends monthly self-exams between the ages of 15 and 55 to detect any changes that could enable the early diagnosis of testicular cancer.
How Are Testicle Conditions Treated?
The different conditions that can affect the testicles have different treatments—and some do not need much treatment at all. For example, orchitis is usually just managed with rest and possibly antibiotics if bacteria is the cause.
In some cases, the cause of a problem with the testicles is an emergency that requires medical treatment like surgery right away. There are also some conditions, like a varicocele or hernia, that may need surgery but not immediately—for example, it can be done as a planned surgery and you may not need to be admitted to the hospital.
Cancer of the testicles often involves a combination of treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Summary
Having one testicle that is always slightly larger than the other is often normal. However, swelling, pain, lumps, or sudden changes in the size or position of a testicle are not.
Doing monthly self-exams is a good way to watch for changes that could be a sign of a serious medical problem, including testicular cancer.
Having regular medical check-ups is also important, but do not wait to call your provider if you notice changes in your testicles that are worrying you.
24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS (UK).What should my testicles look and feel like?.Nemours.Is it normal for one testicle to be bigger?.American Cancer Society.Do I have testicular cancer?.Victoria State Government.Testicular self examination.Soto ÁL, González JLM, Martínez MV, et al.Sonographic evaluation of fetal scrotum, testes and epididymis.Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2021;64(5):393-406. doi:10.5468/ogs.21040Vaganée D, Daems F, Aerts W, et al.Testicular asymmetry in healthy adolescent boys.BJU Int. 2018;122(4):654-666. doi:10.1111/bju.14174PJ. Lourdaux, Vaganée D, Christiaan Leysen, Stefan De Wachter, Gunter De Win.Evolution of testicular asymmetry during puberty in adolescents without and with a left varicocele.BJUI. 2022;131(3):348-356. doi:10.1111/bju.15914Poon SA, Gjertson CK, Mercado MA, Raimondi PM, Kozakowski KA, Glassberg KI.Testicular asymmetry and adolescent varicoceles managed expectantly.J Urol. 2010;183(2):731-734. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2009.10.028MedlinePlus.Aging changes in male reproductive system.Emin Özbek.Testicular atrophy.MedlinePlus.Testicular disorders.Gordhan CG, Sadeght-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol.2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3MedlinePlus.Hydrocele.MedlinePlus.Varicocele.MedlinePlus.Orchitis.MedlinePlus.Epididymitis.NIH.Inguinal hernia.Nemours TeensHealth.Testicular injuries.Nemours KidsHealth.Testicular torsion.MedlinePlus.Testicular self-exam.American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Testicular cancer: screening.Urology Care Foundation.What are ependymitis and orchitis?.UCLA.Varicocele.National Cancer Institute.Testicular cancer.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS (UK).What should my testicles look and feel like?.Nemours.Is it normal for one testicle to be bigger?.American Cancer Society.Do I have testicular cancer?.Victoria State Government.Testicular self examination.Soto ÁL, González JLM, Martínez MV, et al.Sonographic evaluation of fetal scrotum, testes and epididymis.Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2021;64(5):393-406. doi:10.5468/ogs.21040Vaganée D, Daems F, Aerts W, et al.Testicular asymmetry in healthy adolescent boys.BJU Int. 2018;122(4):654-666. doi:10.1111/bju.14174PJ. Lourdaux, Vaganée D, Christiaan Leysen, Stefan De Wachter, Gunter De Win.Evolution of testicular asymmetry during puberty in adolescents without and with a left varicocele.BJUI. 2022;131(3):348-356. doi:10.1111/bju.15914Poon SA, Gjertson CK, Mercado MA, Raimondi PM, Kozakowski KA, Glassberg KI.Testicular asymmetry and adolescent varicoceles managed expectantly.J Urol. 2010;183(2):731-734. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2009.10.028MedlinePlus.Aging changes in male reproductive system.Emin Özbek.Testicular atrophy.MedlinePlus.Testicular disorders.Gordhan CG, Sadeght-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol.2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3MedlinePlus.Hydrocele.MedlinePlus.Varicocele.MedlinePlus.Orchitis.MedlinePlus.Epididymitis.NIH.Inguinal hernia.Nemours TeensHealth.Testicular injuries.Nemours KidsHealth.Testicular torsion.MedlinePlus.Testicular self-exam.American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Testicular cancer: screening.Urology Care Foundation.What are ependymitis and orchitis?.UCLA.Varicocele.National Cancer Institute.Testicular cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NHS (UK).What should my testicles look and feel like?.Nemours.Is it normal for one testicle to be bigger?.American Cancer Society.Do I have testicular cancer?.Victoria State Government.Testicular self examination.Soto ÁL, González JLM, Martínez MV, et al.Sonographic evaluation of fetal scrotum, testes and epididymis.Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2021;64(5):393-406. doi:10.5468/ogs.21040Vaganée D, Daems F, Aerts W, et al.Testicular asymmetry in healthy adolescent boys.BJU Int. 2018;122(4):654-666. doi:10.1111/bju.14174PJ. Lourdaux, Vaganée D, Christiaan Leysen, Stefan De Wachter, Gunter De Win.Evolution of testicular asymmetry during puberty in adolescents without and with a left varicocele.BJUI. 2022;131(3):348-356. doi:10.1111/bju.15914Poon SA, Gjertson CK, Mercado MA, Raimondi PM, Kozakowski KA, Glassberg KI.Testicular asymmetry and adolescent varicoceles managed expectantly.J Urol. 2010;183(2):731-734. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2009.10.028MedlinePlus.Aging changes in male reproductive system.Emin Özbek.Testicular atrophy.MedlinePlus.Testicular disorders.Gordhan CG, Sadeght-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol.2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3MedlinePlus.Hydrocele.MedlinePlus.Varicocele.MedlinePlus.Orchitis.MedlinePlus.Epididymitis.NIH.Inguinal hernia.Nemours TeensHealth.Testicular injuries.Nemours KidsHealth.Testicular torsion.MedlinePlus.Testicular self-exam.American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Testicular cancer: screening.Urology Care Foundation.What are ependymitis and orchitis?.UCLA.Varicocele.National Cancer Institute.Testicular cancer.
NHS (UK).What should my testicles look and feel like?.
Nemours.Is it normal for one testicle to be bigger?.
American Cancer Society.Do I have testicular cancer?.
Victoria State Government.Testicular self examination.
Soto ÁL, González JLM, Martínez MV, et al.Sonographic evaluation of fetal scrotum, testes and epididymis.Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2021;64(5):393-406. doi:10.5468/ogs.21040
Vaganée D, Daems F, Aerts W, et al.Testicular asymmetry in healthy adolescent boys.BJU Int. 2018;122(4):654-666. doi:10.1111/bju.14174
PJ. Lourdaux, Vaganée D, Christiaan Leysen, Stefan De Wachter, Gunter De Win.Evolution of testicular asymmetry during puberty in adolescents without and with a left varicocele.BJUI. 2022;131(3):348-356. doi:10.1111/bju.15914
Poon SA, Gjertson CK, Mercado MA, Raimondi PM, Kozakowski KA, Glassberg KI.Testicular asymmetry and adolescent varicoceles managed expectantly.J Urol. 2010;183(2):731-734. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2009.10.028
MedlinePlus.Aging changes in male reproductive system.
Emin Özbek.Testicular atrophy.
MedlinePlus.Testicular disorders.
Gordhan CG, Sadeght-Nejad H.Scrotal pain: evaluation and management.Korean J Urol.2015;56(1):3–11. doi:10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.3
MedlinePlus.Hydrocele.
MedlinePlus.Varicocele.
MedlinePlus.Orchitis.
MedlinePlus.Epididymitis.
NIH.Inguinal hernia.
Nemours TeensHealth.Testicular injuries.
Nemours KidsHealth.Testicular torsion.
MedlinePlus.Testicular self-exam.
American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Testicular cancer: screening.
Urology Care Foundation.What are ependymitis and orchitis?.
UCLA.Varicocele.
National Cancer Institute.Testicular cancer.
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