Prime
One of my testicles is smaller than the other
Although I feel no pain, I am worried that it might be cancer. Will I have children? Stock photo
What you need to know:
- One may grow testicular tumours that may also make one testicle bigger but in case of testicular infection, the growth in size is accompanied by pain.
- It is, therefore, important to visit a doctor to rule out problems that lead to shrinkage or enlargement of testes because it is these that may lead to poor health as well as infertility.
I am 17 years old and have noticed that one of my testicles is smaller than the other. Although I feel no pain, I am worried that it might be cancer. Will I have children?
Anthony
Dear Anthony,
The testes are naturally not of the same size with the right one being bigger and hanging higher than the left to avoid crashing into each other during walking or running.
The differences in size of the testes may not be noticed because it is not significant but as a boy grows up, he may become conscious of his body and keep checking himself with a likelihood of telling the difference in the size of the testes. This may be the reason a boy may have had one bigger testicle without noticing and after noticing may get stressed thinking it is a new and abnormal development.
However, one’s testes may become unequal in size because one is shrinking or the other is growing bigger. Shrinkage or atrophy may happen naturally in both testes in old age but abnormal blood vessels around the testes (varicocele ) may initially carry no symptoms but start to shrink with time with the left one being more commonly affected. Varicocoeles are treatable but may reduce fertility if not treated.
One testis may look bigger because of developing water around it (hydrococele) and this may be congenital (one may be born with the condition) in some cases. Hydrococele usually do not cause pain, the reason they may go unnoticed for a long time.
One may grow testicular tumours that may also make one testicle bigger but in case of testicular infection, the growth in size is accompanied by pain.
It is, therefore, important to visit a doctor to rule out problems that lead to shrinkage or enlargement of testes because it is these that may lead to poor health as well as infertility.
