Small testicles are a rare medical condition that indicates that a certain pathological process has begun in a man in the body. Such a violation can be either congenital or acquired. Lead to small testicles in a man can only adverse factors conducive to such a process. There are no physiological reasons for the change in testicular size. For the health of men, the size of the testicles matters.
Pathology Features
The clinical picture of the disease will include only changes in the size of the testicles, most often such a violation does not bring any unpleasant sensations and dangers, except for psychological discomfort.
Only a urologist can determine the appearance of such a pathology after a physical examination and a thorough analysis of the results of a laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient. In this case, treatment will be selected individually for each patient and compiled on the basis of pathological factors.
Normal parameters
In a man, the testes in normal condition have the following parameters:
- length - ranges from 4 to 6 cm;
- width - not less than 2 cm and not more than 3.5 cm;
- total volume - from 12 to 30 cm squared.
If we talk about the child, then this deviation can be detected when the external male genital organs do not reach 16 mm in length and less than a centimeter in width. It is important to remember that for newborns, doctors set their indicators - 2 cm long and 12 mm wide.
All values presented are average, therefore small deviations in one direction or another are always acceptable. They will also be considered normal.
Reasons for violation
Clinicians have identified several factors that can lead to a decrease in the size of this paired organ. Why do testicles become small? Possible reasons:
- difficulties with laying testicles during fetal development of the embryo;
- chromosomal diseases or abnormalities at the gene level;
- the negative impact of many factors on the surface of the skin of the male genital organ.
Particularly dangerous factors include:
- diseases of an infectious breed carried by a woman during the bearing of a child;
- various forms of complicated bearing;
- the use by a pregnant woman of various drugs that lead to a teratogenic effect (not following the dosage when taking medications).
Possible diseases and disorders
There is a group of individual chromosomal and gene diseases that can affect a child and lead to a decrease in its paired organs. So why small testicles? Possible reasons:
- hypoplasia;
- Klinefelter's syndrome;
- Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome.
The following disorders are negatively affected by testicular tissue:
- problems with the hormonal system;
- autoimmune processes in the body;
- various infections of the genitourinary system;
- the appearance in the body of a man of a malignant formation;
- the effect of ionizing radiation on a person;
- prolonged exposure to high and low temperatures on the inguinal zone;
- various injuries and damage to the inguinal region.
In addition, the testicles in a man may become smaller when receiving malnutrition or atrophy. Such violations in the body lead to the fact that the baby's testicular growth is impaired. Often this happens under the influence of the following factors:
- cryptorchidism or hypogonadism;
- ectopia or dropsy;
- varicocele or orchitis;
- difficulties in the work of the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of hormones;
- testicular torsion;
- scrotum damage;
- testicular tumors of a benign or malignant nature;
- epididymitis;
- uncontrolled use of anabolic steroids.
Main varieties
Depending on the time of occurrence of the violation, a decrease in the size of the testicles in men can be:
- congenital type - this phenomenon occurs at the time of development of the embryo and fetal laying of its genitals;
- acquired type - occurs at any age under the influence of the described factors.
A violation is also distinguished by its distribution. This includes:
- unilateral - in this case, one testicle is smaller than the other;
- bilateral - the size is small at once in two testicles.
Clinical picture
Despite the fact that the violation of the size of the testicles is already attributed to the clinical sign, the problem can be further complicated by other symptoms that adversely affect the patient's condition.
In the case when one testicle in a man is different in size from another, the following symptoms occur:
- difficulties with the process of urination, which can be seen by a change in the intensity of the stream;
- sexual functions change;
- infertility occurs;
- a disease in the scrotum that has spread to the entire inguinal region;
- the appearance of signs of gynecomastia: an increase in the mammary glands (just like a woman's), the release of white fluid from the nipples;
- malformations of internal organs that appear with chromosomal changes;
- severe, aching pain in the lower abdomen;
- rapid weight loss;
- the spread of pain on the back;
- difficulties with erectile function;
- ejaculate can be found in urine (in urine there is an admixture of sperm);
- there is heaviness and discomfort in the scrotum, which only increase when walking or sitting for a long time;
- swelling of the scrotum begins, it changes color;
- hard patches appear in the testicle, which can be felt with self-palpation.
It is important to remember that the described symptoms are far from all. Manifestations of the pathology in each case will be completely individual.
Diagnostic measures
To determine that a man or boy has small testicles, you just need to palpate.
But to make an accurate diagnosis this is not always enough. In order to prevent the possible development of the disease and maintain the health of the patient, a number of clinical studies need to be done:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, especially for the testes.
- Make a spermogram that will help assess the general condition of spermatogenesis and identify the chance of a normal conception of a child.
- Dopplerography of the vessels of the pelvis, especially the testicle. This procedure helps to establish the nature and degree of blood flow in the genitals.
Treatment
It is possible to get rid of the influence of the factor, due to which the size of the man’s testicles in a man, with a complex therapeutic effect:
- taking medications to suppress infectious processes, hormonal disorders and autoimmune diseases;
- androgen intake - to stimulate tissue effects;
- hormone replacement - if their production has decreased significantly;
- a course of physiotherapy measures;
- drawing up the right diet - adding light food to the diet (used as an auxiliary method of treatment);
- orchifuniculectomy - an operation to eliminate one testicle with spermatic cord;
- radiation and chemotherapy.
Trying to cope with such a violation yourself is not worth it. Doctors strictly prohibit the use of various traditional medicine for treatment, since they can only worsen the patient's condition and lead to complications.
Preventative measures
In determining the degree of male health, the size of the testicles is of particular importance. To prevent the risk of the appearance of the main symptom, primary and secondary prevention should be carried out.
Primary prevention should be carried out at the time of bearing the child. For mother, she includes the following measures:
- lead a correct lifestyle, monitor their activity;
- make the right diet without food harmful to the body;
- start taking medications only if necessary and as directed by the attending physician;
- all infectious and pathological diseases it is important to eliminate in the early stages of pregnancy;
- it is important to go to an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist often - diagnosis helps to timely identify various processes and abnormalities in the body of a woman and a developing child and immediately begin to get rid of the problem.
Secondary preventive measures, already for men themselves, include:
- prevention of various injuries and damage to the scrotum;
- frequent visits to the urologist for an examination;
- timely treatment of pathological diseases of the genitourinary system;
- prevention of exposure to the body of radiation.
As a consequence of diseases
The most dangerous diseases and factors leading to small testicles in the scrotum include:
- Taking drugs. Narcotic substances with regular intake adversely affect organs, leading to a decrease in their size. A man must understand what drug use can lead to.
- Steroids. When using steroids, it is important to remember about all the possible dangers. Drugs and other products, which include testosterone, do not allow the male hormone to be produced normally. With their regular intake, the testicle begins to atrophy and significantly decreases in size.
- Varicocele. A rather dangerous disease, due to which the patient's blood circulation inside the testicle is disturbed.
- Epididymitis, hydrocele, torsion and other diseases. Often in the stronger sex, the size of the testicles changes due to the presence of a cancer in one of them.
This list of reasons is far from complete. It is important to carefully monitor the state of your body, follow the correct lifestyle and abandon addictions.
Epididymitis
Currently, such a disease is quite common in men. The inflammatory process in the testicle can begin as a result of complications of a previous disease (flu or tonsillitis). It is for this reason that it is so important to be treated for colds and viral diseases. Most often, epididymitis occurs as a result of tuberculosis, gonorrhea and syphilis.
Symptoms of inflammation of the appendages: pain in the scrotum, which only becomes stronger when walking, redness of the skin in the groin, fever. To accurately identify the disease, you need to go through a full-fledged study and pass the appropriate tests. Doctors prescribe the patient bed rest and complete rest, as well as prescribe analgesics, antibiotics and physiotherapy measures.
During treatment, the patient is prohibited from any, even minimal, physical exertion, exposure to the sun and hypothermia, the use of large quantities of smoked, fatty and spicy foods. It is important to include more healthy foods, vegetables, fruits, fish, and boiled meat in your diet.