Why is one testicle hanging lower than the other?Good question. But we're all like that. It's 100% normal.
How do I check my balls for lumps?
It’s pretty easy. It’s best to examine your testicles after a warm bath or shower.
Support your balls in the palm of one hand. Note the size and weight of your testicles. This will help you to detect any changes in the future.
Find the epididymis, the tube that carries sperm to the penis. This can be felt at the top and back of each testicle. This is one lump that is supposed to be there.
Now examine each testicle in more detail by rolling it between your fingers and thumb. Press firmly but gently to feel for any lumps, swellings or changes in firmness.
Examine yourself every couple of months or when you feel like it. Testicular cancer is very uncommon so don’t get obsessed with it. But if you do find anything unusual, don’t wait for it to disappear or start throbbing - see your doctor.
Is testosterone made in the testicles?
Yes. Testosterone is the most important of the male hormones. (The ovaries produce it in lower levels in women.)
It is responsible for muscle, bone and sexual development as well as sex drive. At puberty, it makes makes the voice drop and the penis, testicles and facial and pubic hair grow.
In the prostate gland, testosterone is broken down into the related hormone dihydro-testosterone which appears to be involved in baldness and enlarged prostate.
Testosterone levels fall slightly with age. Some men - particularly those with high levels to begin with - can effectively have half as much testosterone in their blood at 80 as at 20. It may lead to loss of muscle tone and bone strength and an increase in weight and the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Whether reduced testosterone is also the cause of the sluggishness, loss of libido and depression that some middle-aged men experience is debateable but it is worth thinking about. Testosterone replacement therapy is available but, while trials continue, many doctors are sceptical.
Can you boost testosterone levels naturally?Yes. Taking more exercise and having more sex gets the hormones going. Also fat reduces the amount of testosterone available to the body so losing weight and cutting down on fatty foods and beer may help.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can worsen hormonal problems. Eat more seeds (particularly pumpkin and sunflower seeds), shellfish, beans, yoghurt and lean meat. These are high in zinc - the mineral essential for testosterone production. Ginseng, stinging nettles and the South American herb Muira Puama are also reputed to help.
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