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Published on 3/31/08
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Though some guys might be more obsessed with their twig than their berries, your cojones deserve just as much love and attention, especially as temperatures soar. “The testicles are outside of the body because they need to be lower than body temperature,” says Dr. Harry Fisch, a professor of clinical urology at Columbia University, the director of the Male Reproductive Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the author of The Male Biological Clock. “In the summer you want to keep them as cool as possible,” he explains—baking them in the sun can cause decreased testosterone and sperm production.
“They should be the size of a walnut shell,” he says. “If they’re like cherries, you should talk to a doctor.” Per Dr. Fisch, minute jewels signal lower-than-normal hormone levels and virility. And do the manly thing by declining that fourth beer: “The bigger the belly, the lower the testosterone levels and the worse a man’s health,” he warns.
If you’re worried you’re coming into “old man testicles,” you might suffer from a varicocele , an enlarged spermatic vein that acts like a “heat pack on the testicles.” Swollen, tender, firm or heavy-feeling junk (think billiard balls, not beanbags) can also denote varicoceles, hydroceles (fluid around the scrotum), trauma to the area or even testicular cancer. If these symptoms exist, see a urologist immediately.
As for keeping your balls nicely chilled during the summer, he suggests natural, breathable fabrics that are lightweight (see “Let’s be brief”). Also, refrain from Jacuzzis, saunas and setting notebook computers on your lap. If a steamy sac prevails, Dr. Fisch recommends going commando.
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