Here it is.... the mystery of the hanging testicle solved....
dear dr. gardos,
I have a small concern. I don't think it's very serious, but I have wondered about it. It appears that my boyfriend's testicles are two different sizes, with one hanging lower than the other. Is this normal?
- swing low sweet chariot
dear swing low sweet chariot,
Yes, this is completely normal. Just as almost all women have one breast a slightly different size than the other, men often have slightly different size testicles. Even if they are the same size, one tends to hang a little lower than the other. For reasons not entirely understood, in about 88 percent of men, the left testicle hangs lower than the right.
For your information, the testicles are olive-shaped structures that are about 1.5 inches long and 1 inch in diameter; however, as a man ages, they decrease in both size and weight.
You should also know that how low a man's testicles hang will depend on arousal and temperature. Two sets of muscles and the scrotal sac will raise and lower the testicles to maintain a constant temperature of approximately 93 degrees Fahrenheit. When a man is cold, or sexually aroused, the skin on the scrotum will wrinkle and the testicles will be drawn up close to the body. Therefore, there may be times when your boyfriend's testicles look even more uneven, but again this is not cause for alarm.
If, on the other hand, your boyfriend notices a size change or other unevenness in either testicle, he should report this to his doctor. Otherwise, there is no reason for you or him to be worried.