Rising testicle: why it happens and how to treat it

It is normal for the testicles to rise and be able to hide in the groin area, not being palpable. This happens especially in children, due to the development of abdominal muscles, but it can be maintained even during adulthood, being called a retractable testicle.

This is especially true because each testicle is connected to the abdominal region through a muscle known as cremaster. This muscle can involuntarily contract several times during the day, whether it is stimulated to do so or not, causing the testicles to rise.

Usually, the testicles return to their natural position a few minutes after they have risen, but they can also be repositioned using the hand and making gentle movements over the place where the scrotum connects to the abdomen. However, if the testicle does not descend after 10 minutes, it is advisable to go to the hospital, or consult a urologist, to assess whether there are any problems that need to be treated.

Main causes of the rising testicle

A good part of the time, the testicles rise only due to an involuntary movement of the muscle that holds them, however, there are other situations that can stimulate this movement, such as:

1. During or after intercourse

Sexual intercourse is a moment of pleasure in which various muscles in the body, especially those in the intimate region, contract involuntarily in response to the electrical stimulus created by the sensation of pleasure. One of these muscles is the cremaster and, therefore, the testicles can go up to the abdominal region, especially during orgasm.

Normally, in these cases, the testicle does not disappear completely, sticking to the upper region of the scrotum, however, many men have a more open channel in the transition between the scrotum and the abdomen, which can cause the testicles to disappear, without this being done. sign of a problem.

2. Cold climates

In order to function properly, the testicles need to be in an environment about 2 to 3 degrees cooler than body temperature and, for this reason, they are found in the scrotum and outside the body.

However, when the environment becomes very cold around the body, the temperature in the scrotum region can drop a lot and also affect the testicles. In this way, the body produces an involuntary movement so that the scrotum contracts and the testicles rise to the abdominal region, in order to regulate the temperature.

3. Dangerous situations

Since the testicles are located in a pouch outside the body, and are not protected by any bone, they are more exposed to blows and injuries that can cause damage to their structure and functioning.

To prevent this from happening, the body has developed a defense mechanism for the muscle that holds the testicles to contract and pull them into the abdominal region, in order to keep them more protected. It is for this reason that the testicles can rise when the man feels measures or hears an impressive story, for example.

4. Short spermatic cord

The spermatic cord is the structure created by the muscles and small vessels that are connected to the testicle, helping it to remain hanging within the testicle.

In some situations, especially in young people and children, this cord may not develop completely or grow at a very slow rate, which does not follow the growth of the body. In such cases, the testicle will be closer to the abdomen and, depending on the size of the cord, it may even end up rising into the belly. This problem usually resolves itself after adolescence.

Possible complications

The retractable testicle is rarely related to complications, however, as the testicle goes up to the abdomen there is a greater risk of not going down again, and it can get stuck. If this happens, there is also a greater risk of developing testicular cancer, having fertility problems or having a testicular torsion, since the testicles are not working at the correct temperature.

When to go to the doctor

Almost always, the testicle goes up and down, not a situation that needs special attention. However, it is important to go to the hospital or see a urologist when:

• The testicle does not descend after 10 minutes; Severe pain or swelling appears in the scrotum area; If you have suffered a severe blow to the intimate region.

The cases in which the testicle rises and does not descend are more common in babies or children and are generally related to a case of cryptorchidism, in which the channel between the scrotum and abdomen does not allow the testicle to descend, which may be necessary do surgery. See how the treatment is done in these cases.