Testicles, or testes, make male hormones and sperm. They are two egg-shaped organs inside the scrotum, the loose sac of skin behind the penis. It's easy to injure your testicles because they are not protected by bones or muscles. Men and boys should wear athletic supporters when they play sports.
You should examine your testicles monthly and seek medical attention for lumps, redness, pain or other changes. Testicles can get inflamed or infected. They can also develop cancer. Testicular cancer is rare and highly treatable. It usually happens between the ages of 15 and 40.
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Disorders of the Testes(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/testicular_cancer/hic_disorders_of_the_testes.aspx
Also available in Spanish http://my.clevelandclinic.org/es_/disorders/testicular_cancer/hic_disorders_of_the_testes.aspx
- Genital Pain in Men(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/genital-pain/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Genital Problems in Men(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/539.printerview.html
- Scrotum Swelling(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/scrotum-swelling/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Swelling of the Testes(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec21/ch238/ch238n.html
- Testicle Pain: What Causes It?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/testicle-pain/HO00148/METHOD=print
- Testicular Injury(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/testicular-injury/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Testicular Pain(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/testicular-pain/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Testosterone Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/testosterone/test.html
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Ultrasound Imaging of the Scrotum(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=us-scrotal
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=us-scrotal
- Blood in Semen(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/blood-in-semen/AN00311/METHOD=print
- Discolored Semen: What Does It Mean?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/discolored-semen/AN00779/METHOD=print
- Epididymitis and Orchitis(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=490
- Hydrocele(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hydrocele/DS00617/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Male Hypogonadism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/male-hypogonadism/DS00300/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Orchitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/orchitis/DS00602/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Scrotal Masses(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/scrotal-masses/DS00410/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Spermatoceles(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=530
- Testicular Torsion(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/men/reproductive/916.printerview.html
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Testicular Trauma(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=10&topic=135
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=135
- Varicocele(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/Varicocele/DS00618/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Known Health Effects for DES (Diethylstilbestrol) Sons(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/DES/consumers/about/effects_sons.html
- Low Testosterone and Men's Health(Hormone Foundation) - Links to PDF - In English and Spanish - http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Reproduction/upload/bilingual_Testosterone.pdf
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Male Reproductive System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/male_reproductive.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/male_reproductive_esp.html
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Genital Diseases, Male
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Genital+Diseases,+Male%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Testicular Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Testicular+Diseases%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cyanoacrylate-related pulmonary embolism following percutaneous varicocele embolization. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18791515&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Single setting bilateral laparoscopic orchiopexy for bilateral intra-abdominal testicles. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18721983&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Hydrocele in the pediatric patient: inguinal or scrotal approach? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18721980&tool=MedlinePlus
- Testicular Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(epididymitis[majr]+OR+hematocele[majr]+OR+hemospermia[majr]+OR+testicular+hydrocele[majr]+OR+spermatic+cord+torsion[majr]+OR+spermatocele[majr]+OR+testicular+diseases[majr]+OR+varicocele[majr]+OR+testes/in[mh]+OR+scrotum/in[mh])+NOT+(testicular+neoplasms[mh]+OR+infertility[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+guideline[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary for Testicular Cancer and Related Conditions(Testicular Cancer Resource Center) - http://tcrc.acor.org/dictionary.html
- Find a Urologist(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/
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National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/
- Retractile Testicle(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/retractile-testicle/DS00742/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Testicular Exams(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/guys/testicles.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/testicles_esp.html
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Testicular Injuries(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/guys/testicular_injuries.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/testicular_injuries_esp.html
- Varicocele(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/guys/varicocele.html
- Penis Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/penisdisorders.html
- Testicular Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/testicularcancer.html
- Endocrine System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinesystem.html
- Male Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/malereproductivesystem.html
- Men - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/men.html
- Sexual Health Issues - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualhealthissues.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Testicular Disorders is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/