How To Know If Your Balls Dropped? Expert Tips

Most boys notice their testicles descend during puberty, usually between ages 9 and 14. A testicle that has “dropped” means it has moved from inside the abdomen into the scrotum, the loose pouch of skin below the penis. You can check this at home by feeling for two firm, oval-shaped organs inside the scrotum. If you cannot feel one or both testicles, or if the scrotum looks flat on one side, it is important to see a doctor for an evaluation.

What Does It Mean When Your Balls Drop?

During fetal development, testicles form inside the abdomen. In the last few months of pregnancy, they travel down a passage called the inguinal canal and settle into the scrotum. This process is called descent. For most boys, this happens before birth.

When people say a boy’s “balls have dropped,” they are usually talking about puberty. The testicles grow larger and hang lower in the scrotum as he matures. This is a normal part of development. It is different from the medical condition called undescended testicle, which is present from birth.

Understanding the difference matters. A newborn with an undescended testicle needs medical attention early. A teenager whose testicles are growing and hanging lower is experiencing normal puberty.

Signs Your Testicles Have Dropped

The clearest sign is visual and physical. Look at the scrotum. If both testicles have descended, you will see two distinct oval shapes inside the pouch. The scrotum will appear fuller and may hang lower than it did before puberty.

You can also feel for them. Gently hold the scrotum between your thumb and fingers. Each testicle should feel like a smooth, firm egg. They should move freely within the sac. One testicle often hangs lower than the other — this is normal and usually the left one.

Other signs during puberty include:

• Testicles growing larger
• Scrotum skin becoming darker and looser
• Pubic hair appearing
• Penis growing longer

These changes usually happen together. If the testicles are growing and hanging lower, they have dropped.

How To Know If Your Balls Dropped: Self-Exam Steps

A simple self-exam takes less than a minute. Do it after a warm shower or bath when the scrotum is relaxed. Cold temperatures pull the testicles closer to the body, which can make the exam harder.

Stand in front of a mirror. Look at the scrotum for any swelling, lumps, or asymmetry. Then use both hands. Place your thumbs on top of the scrotum and your index and middle fingers underneath. Gently roll each testicle between your fingers.

You should feel a smooth surface. The testicle itself should be firm but not hard. Behind and above each testicle, you will feel the epididymis — a soft tube-like structure. This is normal anatomy, not a lump.

If you feel a hard lump, a change in size, or pain, contact a doctor. Most lumps are not cancer, but any new lump deserves a professional check.

What If One Testicle Hasn’t Dropped?

Sometimes only one testicle descends. The other stays in the abdomen or the inguinal canal. This condition is called cryptorchidism or undescended testicle. It affects about 3 percent of full-term baby boys and up to 30 percent of premature boys.

In many infants, the testicle descends on its own within the first few months of life. If it has not descended by age 6 months, it is unlikely to do so without treatment. The standard medical recommendation is surgery, usually performed between 6 and 18 months of age.

In an adult or teenager, a testicle that has never descended is a different situation. It may have been missed at birth or the boy may have a condition called retractile testicle. A retractile testicle moves back and forth between the scrotum and the groin. This is caused by a muscle reflex and is usually harmless.

A true undescended testicle in an older male carries health risks. It is associated with reduced fertility and a higher risk of testicular cancer. Surgical treatment is still possible in adolescence and adulthood. A urologist can evaluate your specific situation.

Retractile Testicle vs. Undescended Testicle

These two conditions are often confused. A retractile testicle is pulled out of the scrotum by a reflex muscle called the cremaster muscle. It can be gently guided back into the scrotum and stays there for a while. It does not require surgery and typically resolves by puberty.

An undescended testicle cannot be guided into the scrotum. It is stuck in the groin or abdomen. This condition requires medical evaluation and usually surgery.

If you can move the testicle down into the scrotum with your fingers, it is likely retractile. If it will not move down or immediately springs back, see a doctor. Only a healthcare provider can make the definitive diagnosis.

When To See a Doctor

See a doctor if you or your child has any of the following:

• One or both testicles cannot be felt in the scrotum
• The scrotum looks flat or empty on one side
• A testicle is painful, swollen, or tender
• A new lump is felt on a testicle
• One testicle suddenly becomes larger than the other

Sudden testicular pain is an emergency. It can indicate testicular torsion, a condition where the spermatic cord twists and cuts off blood flow. This requires immediate medical attention. If treated within a few hours, the testicle can usually be saved.

For a baby, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all boys be examined for undescended testicles at birth and at every well-child visit. If the condition is found, referral to a pediatric urologist is standard.

Does an Undescended Testicle Affect Fertility?

Yes, it can. The testicles need to be slightly cooler than body temperature to produce healthy sperm. The scrotum provides this cooler environment. A testicle that remains inside the abdomen stays at core body temperature, which damages sperm production over time.

When one testicle is undescended and the other is normal, fertility is often preserved. When both are undescended, the risk of infertility is higher. Surgery to bring the testicle into the scrotum improves the chance of normal fertility, especially when performed early.

The evidence is clear that early surgery — before age 18 months — gives the best long-term outcomes. For older males, surgery may still help, but some damage may already be done.

What About Testicular Cancer Risk?

Men with a history of undescended testicle have a higher risk of testicular cancer. The risk is higher when the testicle remained in the abdomen rather than the groin. Surgery to move the testicle down does not eliminate the risk, but it makes the testicle easier to examine.

Regular self-exams are important for men with this history. Testicular cancer is highly treatable when caught early. The five-year survival rate for localized testicular cancer is above 95 percent.

No clinical guidelines currently recommend routine screening ultrasound for men with a history of undescended testicle. The standard advice is monthly self-exams and prompt medical evaluation of any new lump.

Common Myths About Dropped Testicles

One myth is that testicles “drop” suddenly during puberty, like a switch being flipped. In reality, descent during puberty is gradual. The testicles grow larger and the scrotum loosens over months or years.

Another myth is that a retractile testicle needs surgery. It does not. It is a normal reflex in many young boys and resolves on its own.

A third myth is that a man with one testicle cannot father children. This is false. One healthy testicle is sufficient for normal fertility in most men.