Anything to do with our sex organs, such as the testicles, can be a bit embarrassing and difficult to talk about. Understanding a bit more about them can help to demystify the whole thing, so here are a few facts:
- The testicles are two oval-shaped organs that hang below the penis in a sac called the scrotum.
- As part of the male reproductive system, testicles begin to produce sperm from puberty (around the age of 13-14). Sperm fertilise the female egg during sex.
- They produce around 120 million sperm a day, but if the sperm isn't used it is reabsorbed, so you don't get a build up. Each ejaculation produces around 200-400 million sperm.
- Sperm is stored inside the testicle and travels through several tubes during sexual activity. A tube called the epididymis carries it from the testicle, through the spermatic cord to what's known as the ejaculatory duct. This duct opens into the urethra - the tube from the bladder to the penis.
- Testicles produce a hormone (a substance that causes changes in our body) called testosterone, which gives men the sex drive. Testosterone also causes male features to develop during puberty, such as a deep voice, facial hair (beards), muscle development and the ability to have an erection.
what else....
Lymph fluid drains from the testicles into the lymph nodes in the tummy. The lymphatic system, which contains this fluid, is part of our immune system which protects us from infections and diseases. It runs throughout the body, a bit like the blood system.
When you are diagnosed with testicular cancer, you have tests to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
