Men and Men's Health

Author: Wang Xi et al. / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
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8. What to do if a child has cryptorchidism? When a child is diagnosed with cryptorchidism, parents are very anxious and desperately seek good treatment methods. So, what methods can help the undescended testicle return to the scrotum? Here is a brief introduction:
(1) Observation therapy: A large portion of infants may have delayed testicular descent due to delayed embryonic development, which can be postponed by 3 to 12 months. Therefore, if an infant is found to have an undescended testicle at birth, do not rush to use medication or surgery to attempt repositioning. It is advisable to wait patiently for a period of three to five months to a year, as many infants with cryptorchidism will self-correct.
(2) Hormone therapy: The formation of cryptorchidism is closely related to endocrine hormones, especially the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the mother's body during fetal development. Thus, this hormone can also be used in clinical treatment.
(3) Testicular fixation: Through surgical methods, the testicle is forcibly fixed in the scrotum, which has become a widely adopted clinical approach. Most patients achieve success with this method.
(4) Testicular transplantation: In recent years, with the widespread development of microsurgical techniques for testicular transplantation, it has brought hope for the repositioning of undescended testicles in patients.
(5) Testicular resection: If a testicle is found to be significantly underdeveloped and non-functional, it should be removed to completely eliminate the risk of malignant transformation into a testicular tumor.
9. Why shouldn’t the testicles be touched? The entire external genitalia of a man, including the penis and testicles, are sensitive areas, especially the testicles. Due to the dense and tough outer membrane and the distribution of nerves, the volume of the testicles is strictly limited and cannot be easily deformed. Therefore, the testicles are delicate organs that should not be squeezed or touched. They are extremely sensitive to pressure. In theory, the position of the testicles is not easily injured, but there are some situations that can cause direct impact, such as falling off a bicycle or sitting down on a hard surface, directly hitting the testicles. In such cases, it is impossible to avoid this downward impact. Especially for the elderly, who may have less agility in their hands and feet, it is easy to fall off a bicycle or into a small ditch by the roadside, and during the sliding process, the testicles may be injured. Therefore, extra caution is needed. After being struck, the testicles reflexively contract to press against the perineum. If the impact is not too severe, slight movement can help the retracted testicles return to their original position quickly. However, if the testicles remain in an abnormal position due to external force stimulation for a long time, torsion of the testicle can twist blood vessels, disrupt blood supply, and lead to ischemia for an extended period, resulting in tissue necrosis. If the pain subsides quickly, there is usually no problem. But if the pain persists due to excessive force, or if blood is present in the urine, immediate medical attention in the urology department is necessary. If treatment is delayed, severe complications may arise.
10. Why do the testicles differ in size? The two testicles of a man are generally similar in size, but they can also have a noticeable difference. This phenomenon of asymmetry is very common in clinical practice. Surveys indicate that approximately 30 to 50 percent of men have testicles of unequal sizes. In normal males, some have testicles that differ in size from a young age, with differences sometimes being significant. This is often due to congenital diseases. For example, congenital unilateral testicular hypoplasia may result in one testicle being small and soft, resembling an infantile testicle, while the contralateral testicle may compensate and be larger than usual. Thus, the testicles differ in size, but this is relatively uncommon. Additionally, trauma can also cause asymmetry in testicular size. Trauma-induced internal bleeding or hematoma in the testicle can lead to impaired blood supply and atrophy, making the affected testicle smaller than the contralateral one. Mumps can also cause unilateral testicular atrophy. Of course, there are many reasons for asymmetry in testicular size, but it is important not to misinterpret other diseases in the scrotum as the cause of testicular size differences to avoid misdiagnosis. In summary, any reason that causes one side of the scrotum to be significantly larger than the other should be examined promptly.
11. Does unequal testicular size affect sexual function? Whether unequal testicular size leads to reduced sexual function depends on the extent of the difference and whether one testicle is within the normal range. As long as one testicle has a volume of 12 to 25 milliliters and normal texture and firmness, it has little impact on sexual function, regardless of the size of the contralateral testicle, even if it is removed due to illness. In other words, as long as one testicle is normal and secretes testosterone properly, male secondary sexual characteristics and sexual function can remain normal. It is important to pay attention to testicular size and texture. From birth to the age of 12 before puberty, the testicles are relatively inactive, with a volume of 1 to 4 milliliters. Afterward, the testicular volume increases rapidly, reaching 16 to 25 milliliters in adult males, with an average of 19.8 milliliters. After the age of 60, the testicular volume gradually decreases. If a man of reproductive age has a testicular volume smaller than 15 milliliters, it indicates damage to the spermatogenic epithelium in the seminiferous tubules. Small testicles (usually not exceeding 3 milliliters) are commonly seen in Klinefelter syndrome. Testicular sizes between 5 and 12 milliliters are associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Unilateral testicular enlargement may suggest a testicular tumor. Symmetrical testicular enlargement can be called macroorchidism, which is normal but less common. The texture of the testicles should also be noted. A normal testicle feels elastic when lightly pressed. If the testicle feels soft when lightly pressed, it may be accompanied by impaired spermatogenesis, potentially affecting male fertility, and medical attention should be sought promptly.
12. Why is some man’s penis curved? Many developing boys discover that their penis bends at various angles during erection, causing some adult men to feel embarrassed, shy, or even become introverted, afraid to date, thinking they will never have normal sexual relationships or intimacy. In fact, this phenomenon occurs because the two corpora cavernosa that make up the penis develop unevenly, similar to how a horse’s head tilts when the reins are pulled unevenly. The penis may twist upward or outward. Mildly, the penis may be slightly curved or twisted, but severely, it can twist to the point of obstructing the urethra and affecting urination. There is absolutely no need to panic about this, as most people have slight curvature, which does not affect urination or sexual needs at all. Therefore, it can be ignored. Even if the curvature is severe enough to obstruct urination and sexual function, it can be corrected completely, and the correction surgery is very simple, can be done in an outpatient setting, and the patient does not need to be hospitalized or take time off work.
13. Do you have a "small penis complex"? Most men are unsure whether their penis size is considered large or small. In fact, most men believe their size is below average. This is known as the "small penis complex." The size of the penis is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions among men in the world. In reality, this is a misconception. From ancient stone carvings of totems, we see the worship of reproduction and reproductive organs, with the vigorous and upright penis clearly displaying divine power! Thus, various superstitions and misconceptions have also emerged, perhaps simply believing that a large and hard penis is the only true symbol of a strong and robust man. In modern times, due to some unscientific beliefs, as well as the distorted promotion of unhealthy publications and pornographic movies, many unmarried men or those with erectile dysfunction after marriage become very sensitive about penis size, always feeling that their penis is smaller than others. Such doubts about penis size often and anxiety, causing them unnecessary suffering.