Sweaty Balls, Oysters and the Handy Sack

They're sensitive, notoriously painful, and seem to just hang there uselessly. But did you know testicles can expand and even turn blue?

Often ignored during sex and rarely talked about compared to the penis, testicles actually perform vital functions. It’s time to give the penis’s next-door neighbors the attention they deserve!

1. A Practical Sack

Testicles are temperature-sensitive. They contract in the cold and expand in the heat — all for sperm production. Sperm require a temperature of around 34–35°C to mature properly, cooler than the body’s 37°C. That’s why testicles hang outside the body.

2. World’s Heaviest Testicle

Human testicles weigh around 18 g on average (the size of a plum). But a right whale’s testicles weigh 500 kg each — a ton together, about as much as a VW Beetle! Their ejaculation? Up to 20 liters of semen.

3. Taste Buds on Testicles

Sounds odd, but testicles have taste receptors. They don’t taste flavors like the tongue, but play a role in fertility. A TikTok trend had users dipping their testicles in soy sauce claiming they could taste it — false. These receptors don’t activate the brain’s taste centers.

4. Sweaty Balls

Sweaty balls are real — and far from funny. Breathable underwear is essential. Comfyballs boxers, mostly cotton with cooling properties, lift and secure the genitals away from the thighs thanks to a unique cut. Say goodbye to sweaty balls!

5. Uneven Size

Most men’s right testicle is slightly larger due to fetal development. Fun fact: during sex, testicles can nearly double in size. And they reach maximum size around 40 before shrinking again with age.

6. Sacrifice for the Harvest

Romans once celebrated a “testicle festival” — not to honor the organs, but to castrate bulls and offer their testicles to the gods for a good harvest.

7. Ouch!

Why is a hit to the balls so painful? They lack bones, muscle, or fat for protection. Pain receptors connect to nerves in the brain and stomach, which is why a hit can cause nausea or headaches.

8. Live Longer Without Testicles

Men tend to die earlier than women, possibly due to testosterone — which increases heart disease risk and weakens the immune system. Korean researchers found that eunuchs lived 14 years longer than non-castrated men in the 16th–18th centuries.

9. One Hangs Lower

It’s perfectly normal for one testicle to hang lower than the other. It reduces friction and prevents them from squishing together while walking.

10. Never Order Rocky Mountain Oysters

In the US, never order “Rocky Mountain Oysters” for dinner. They’re not oysters — they’re deep-fried testicles (from bulls, pigs, or sheep). Preparation: peel, flour, season, deep fry. Thanks, but we’ll take fries instead.

Presented by a Partner
This article was created by Ringier Brand Studio. The content is editorially prepared and meets Ringier’s quality standards.

This article was originally published on Blick.ch in German.