# Testicles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768 "2000-10-28T23:06:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terry\_Betts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Terry\_Betts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Betts)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/1 "2000-10-28T23:06:27Z")
Why, when every other essential organ is protected internally, are mens testicles on the outside? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/2 "2000-10-28T23:10:08Z")
WAG: to control the temperature. Testicals lower themselves when the sperm gets too hot - it is supposed to be cooler than standard body temperature. I’m no biologist, just an end user of the product. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![SkinnyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@SkinnyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkinnyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2000, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/3 "2000-10-28T23:51:21Z")
Agree with Coldfire here. From what I remember from biology in school, sperm needs a lower temperature than normal body temperature to keep it alive and healthy. (AFAIK all mammals have them “hanging”.) That’s why tight clothing is actually bad for a man’s fertility: it keeps your testicles too warm… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Terry Betts \* > **…are mens testicles…** Men’s testicles? Is there any other kind? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2000, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/4 "2000-10-28T23:53:58Z")
It is to control temperature. It’s why doctors suggest boxers (where the boys hang free) as a way to increase the likelyhood of conception over briefs. Ever seen the Seinfeld “shrinkage” episode? It’s like a scared turtle! And Coldfire…um…“end user?” :D:D [sub]I’m such a perv [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/5 "2000-10-29T00:23:59Z")
> [@](#): > > AFAIK all mammals have them “hanging”. Most. Elephants, whales and seals are exceptions. They have other temperature regulation mechanism for their testicles which are internal. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/6 "2000-10-29T01:23:30Z")
It’s because they are **SO** much fun to play with! ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/7 "2000-10-29T02:27:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*WAG: to control the temperature. Testicals lower themselves when the sperm gets too hot - it is supposed to be cooler than standard body temperature. > > I’m no biologist, just an end user of the product. YMMV. \*\* Yes, but this just raises the question- why did we evolve so our sperm are that sensitive to temperature? Wouldn’t it have been better to evolve with sperm that thrived at 98.6, so inside the body was best? Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/8 "2000-10-29T02:29:50Z")
I suppose those people with undescended testicles all ended up dying off. Having an undescended testicle does make you more prone to having testicular cancer I thought. Of course, that could have nothing to do with this topic. If so, I will stick to answering questions about obscure football rules. Alternate theory: testicles exist outside the body to allow Hollywood screenwriters to get cheap laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/9 "2000-10-29T03:15:46Z")
Alternate theory number 2: It’s so your dick can hang around all day complaining that his neighbors are two nuts and an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/10 "2000-10-29T03:17:39Z")
They were originally designed to be retractable in case of imminent danger, but somebody in quality control blew it and signed off on a schematic in which the control wires had been reallocated to other circuits. ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/11 "2000-10-29T03:40:55Z")
Two cents more: the sperm become toooooo active at the normal body temps (as inside a female). Protection is enough by location. If it were not enogh, we all would develop something else, but as acute observers above noted, we all would have less fun. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/12 "2000-10-29T04:06:03Z")
OK, so why is it that one testicle (usually the right, I beleive) hangs lower than the other? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/13 "2000-10-29T04:12:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > \*\*OK, so why is it that one testicle (usually the right, I beleive) hangs lower than the other? \*\* So that we can walk painlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testicles/38768/14 "2000-10-29T05:22:34Z")
doooooooooooo your testes hang low? Can they wobble to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow? Can you throw them over your shoulder, like a continental soldier? Do your testes hang low?