The testicles (also called testes) are part of the male reproductive system.
The testicles are two oval organs about the size of large olives. They are
located inside the scrotum, the loose sac of skin that hangs behind the penis.
The testicles make the male hormones, including testosterone, and produce sperm,
the male reproductive cells. Disorders of the testes can lead to serious
complications, including hormonal imbalances, sexual dysfunction and infertility.
What disorders affect the testes?
Some of the more common disorders that affect the testes include the following:
Testicular trauma
Because the testes are located within the scrotum, which hangs outside of
the body, they do not have the protection of muscles and bones. This makes it
easier for the testes to be struck, hit, kicked or crushed, which occurs most
often during contact sports. Males can protect their testicles by wearing
athletic cups during sports.
Trauma to the testes can cause severe pain, bruising and/or swelling. In
most cases, the testes—which are made of a spongy material—can absorb the
shock of an injury without serious damage. A rare type of testicular trauma,
called testicular rupture, occurs when the testicle receives a direct blow or
is squeezed against the hard surface of the pelvis. This injury can cause
blood to leak into the scrotum. In severe cases, surgery to repair the rupture—and
thus save the testicle—may be necessary.
Testicular torsion
Within the scrotum, the testicles are secured at one end by a structure
called the spermatic cord. Sometimes, this cord gets twisted cutting off the testicle’s blood supply. Symptoms of testicular
torsion include sudden and severe pain, enlargement of the affected testicle,
tenderness, and swelling.
This disorder, which occurs most often in young males between the ages of
12 and 18, can result from an injury to the testicles or from strenuous
activity. It also can occur for no apparent reason.
Testicular torsion is an emergency. Treatment usually involves correction
of the problem through surgery. Testicular function may be saved if the
condition is diagnosed and corrected immediately. If the blood supply to the
testicle is cut off for a long period of time, the testicle can become
permanently damaged and may need to be removed.
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the testicles divide and
grow uncontrolled. Testicular cancer can develop in one or both
testicles in men or young boys. Symptoms of testicular cancer include a lump,
irregularity or enlargement in either testicle; a pulling sensation or feeling
of unusual heaviness in the scrotum; a dull ache in the groin or lower
abdomen; and pain or discomfort (which may come and go) in a testicle or the
scrotum.
The exact causes of testicular cancer are not known, but there are certain
risk factors for the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases a
person’s chance of getting a disease. The risk factors for cancer of the
testicles include:
- Age — Testicular cancer can occur at any age, but most
often occurs in men between the ages of 15 and 40.
- Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) — This is a
condition in which the testicles do not descend from the abdomen, where they
are located during development, to the scrotum shortly before birth. This
condition is a major risk factor for testicular cancer.
- Family history — A family history of testicular cancer
increases the risk.
- Race and ethnicity — The risk for testicular cancer in
Caucasian men is more than five times that of African-American men and more
than double that of Asian-American men.
Testicular cancer is a rare form of cancer, and is highly treatable and
usually curable. Surgery is the most common treatment for testicular cancer.
Surgical treatment involves removing the cancerous testicle through an incision
(cut) in the groin. In some cases, the doctor also may remove some of the
lymph nodes in the abdomen. Radiation, which uses high-energy rays to attack
cancer, and chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer, are other treatment options.
The success of treatment for testicular cancer depends on the stage of the
disease when it is first detected and treated. If the cancer is found and
treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes, the cure rate is excellent,
greater than 98 percent. Even after testicular cancer has spread to the lymph
nodes and other parts of the body, chemotherapy is highly effective, with a
cure rate greater than 90 percent.
To prevent testicular cancer, all men should be familiar with the size and
feel of their testicles, so they can detect any changes. The American Cancer
Society recommends monthly testicular self-examinations (TSE) for men over age
15. A TSE is best performed after a warm bath or shower, when the skin of the
scrotum is relaxed. After looking for any changes in appearance, carefully
examine each testicle by rolling it between the fingers and thumbs of both
hands to check for any lumps.
Epididymitis
Epididymitis is inflammation of the epididymis. The epididymis is the
coiled tube that lies on and behind each testicle. It functions in the
transport, storage and maturation of sperm cells that are produced in the
testicles. The epidiymis connects the testicles with the vas deferens (the
tubes that carry sperm).
Epididymitis often is caused by infection or by the sexually transmitted
disease chlamydia. Symptoms of epididymitis include scrotal pain and swelling.
In severe cases, the infection can spread to the adjacent testicle, causing
fever and abscess (collection of pus).
Treatment for epididymitis includes antibiotics (drugs that kill the
bacteria causing the infection), bed rest, ice to reduce swelling, the use of
a scrotal supporter, and anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen). The
use of condoms during sex can help prevent epididymitis caused by chlamydia.
If left untreated, epididymitis can produce scar tissue, which can block the
sperm from leaving the testicle. This can cause problems with fertility,
especially if both testicles are involved or if the man has recurring infections.
Hypogonadism
One function of the testes is to secrete the hormone testosterone. This
hormone plays an important role in the development and maintenance of many
male physical characteristics. These include muscle mass and strength, fat
distribution, bone mass, sperm production, and sex drive.
Hypogonadism in men is a disorder that occurs when the testicles (gonads)
do not produce enough testosterone. Primary hypogonadism occurs when there is
a problem or abnormality in the testicles themselves. Secondary hypogonadism
occurs when there is a problem with the pituitary gland in the brain, which
sends chemical messages to the testicles to produce testosterone.
Hypogonadism can occur during fetal development, at puberty, or in adult
men. When it occurs in adult men, hypogonadism may cause the following problems:
- Erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection)
- Infertility
- Decreased sex drive
- Decrease in beard and growth of body hair
- Decrease in size or firmness of the testicles
- Decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat
- Enlarged male breast tissue
- Mental and emotional symptoms similar to those of menopause in
women (hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, depression, fatigue)
There are various causes of hypogonadism, including:
- Klinefelter’s syndrome — This syndrome involves the
presence of abnormal sex chromosomes. A male normally has one X chromosome
and one Y chromosome. The Y chromosome contains the genetic material with
the codes that determine the male gender, and related masculine
characteristics and development. Males with Klinefelter’s syndrome have an
extra X chromosome, which causes abnormal development of the testicles.
- Undescended testicles — The testicles develop inside
the abdomen and usually move down into the scrotum before birth. Sometimes,
this does not occur. However, in most cases, the testicles descend by the
child’s first birthday. An undescended testicle that remains outside the
scrotum throughout childhood can result in abnormal testicular development.
- Hemochromatosis — Hemochromatosis, or too much iron in
the blood, can cause the testicles or the pituitary gland to malfunction.
- Testicular trauma — Damage to the testicles can affect
the production of testosterone.
- Cancer treatment — Chemotherapy or radiation therapy,
common treatments for cancer, can interfere with testosterone and sperm
production by the testicles.
- Normal aging — Older men generally have lower levels
of testosterone, although the decline of the hormone varies greatly among men.
- Pituitary disorders — Problems affecting the pituitary
gland—including a head injury or pituitary tumor—can interfere with the
gland’s signals to the testicles to produce testosterone.
- Medications — Certain drugs can affect testosterone
production. Commonly used psychiatric drugs and some medicines used to treat
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may cause hypogonadism.
Treatment for hypogonadism depends on the cause. Male hormone replacement
(testosterone replacement therapy or TRT) often is used to treat disorders of
the testicles. If the problem is related to the pituitary gland, pituitary
hormones may help increase testosterone levels and sperm production.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 1/14/2010…#9126
