# Why do testicals move on their own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745 "2004-01-09T23:59:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/1 "2004-01-09T23:59:17Z")
Coz they do! If u sit still, rest them on something and just stare at them; they move around! Like they’re looking for a way out or something…😕 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/2 "2004-01-10T00:10:54Z")
The testes dont move under their own power, no. I’m not a doctor, but I believe the phenomenon you describe (yes, it happens) is the scrotum making fine adjustments to bring the testes closer to the body if the outside temperature has dropped, or to “hang 'em low” if the room\* has heated up. A specific temperature slightly lower than body temperature is needed to manufacture healthy sperm. \*I assume you’re not checking this on the street. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/3 "2004-01-10T00:12:58Z")
That’s nothing – have you ever looked at your hand? I mean, _really_ looked at it? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/4 "2004-01-10T00:20:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neoof \* > \*\* > If u sit still, rest them on something and just stare at them \*\* :eek: (I’ve been waiting for just the right post to use my first “eek!” emoticon!) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/5 "2004-01-10T00:27:50Z")
This topic came up here a while back and the phrase "Poor man’s Lava Lamp’ was coined. ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/6 "2004-01-10T00:55:50Z")
Is the scrotum made of some sort of erectile tissue? If so this could be a cause of movement seen after you make “adjustments”. I think the skin at least has the ability to tighten up, much like when nipples harden. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/7 "2004-01-10T00:59:16Z")
posted by mangetout > [@](#): > > "Poor man’s Lava Lamp’ Has anybody pointed out what a great band name that would be? ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/8 "2004-01-10T01:01:29Z")
Sweet Jesus, now we got a newbie who contemplates his balls. ---
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/9 "2004-01-10T01:52:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harborwolf \* > \*\*posted by mangetout > > Has anybody pointed out what a great band name that would be? \*\* Yes. they are my band: ‘Poor man’s lava lamp TM’😛 ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/10 "2004-01-10T02:06:04Z")
It’s not just the scrotum contracting, I can do this at will. Let them hang there and perform Kegel exercises (flex the “clinch off your piss” muscle). They will rise up and down. There was a video of this floating around on the net somewhere - but I aint gonna go looking for it. ---
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/11 "2004-01-10T03:30:01Z")
But if u just watch them (without clenching) they start to move around almost randomly. I find the effect is best observed in or just after a hot bath. ---
**Author:** ![willyboyishere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@willyboyishere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willyboyishere)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/12 "2004-01-10T04:22:01Z")
I noticed this phenomenon when I was sitting very still in the bathtub, I think, as an adolescent, and noticed the hair on the testicles moving to and fro slightly, and the testes themselves rotating ever so slightly. I almost couldn’t believe this, so I made a point of trying to observe it again over the next several days or weeks. And it kept happening. If I’m remembering correctly, I looked it up somehow, somewhere, and found out that it’s a manifestation of the process whereby the testicles create a supply of semen. Anybody confirm this? ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/13 "2004-01-10T04:36:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*This topic came up here a while back and the phrase "Poor man’s Lava Lamp’ was coined. \*\* I’ll confirm this. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/14 "2004-01-10T06:10:18Z")
It’s as **TheLoadedDog** describes, the cremasteric muscle and the cremasteric reflex. BTW, our intramural football team at med school was _The Cremasters._ ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/15 "2004-01-10T07:58:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neoof \* > **rest them on something and just stare at them** I like to put mine on the mantelpiece and watch them from the couch. ---
**Author:** ![wendyrules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@wendyrules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendyrules)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/16 "2004-01-10T08:39:12Z")
It’s not _just_ the testicles that move when I get near my SO’s genitalia!! :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/17 "2004-01-10T10:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\*I like to put mine on the mantelpiece and watch them from the couch. \*\* To me, it’s more the warmth from the fire, but you are _ **SO** _ right. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/18 "2004-01-10T10:56:50Z")
What are “testicals” exactly? I heard they are something like Jehova’s Witnesses but I’m not quite sure. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/19 "2004-01-10T12:00:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*This topic came up here a while back and the phrase "Poor man’s Lava Lamp’ was coined. \*\* It says a lot about this message board that this is the sort of subject that could come up **twice**. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745/20 "2004-01-10T12:01:28Z")
Maybe this would be useful:- [http://www.geocities.com/magicmetal2001/Cremasteric.html](http://www.geocities.com/magicmetal2001/Cremasteric.html) ? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-testicals-move-on-their-own/223745.md?page=2)