Testicular atrophy

Definition – What is testicular atrophy?

In general, the term atrophy describes the regression of a tissue. In the case of testicular atrophy the term “shrunken testicle” is also used. The testicles, or possibly only one male testicle, are greatly reduced in size.

Causes

The causes for a reduction in testicle size can be many and varied. The original cause of testicular atrophy is usually a testosterone deficiency. Testosterone is a steroid hormone which takes over constructive functions in the body.

In men, for example, this includes the growth of the genitals, including the testicles. A testosterone deficiency can have various causes. On the one hand, there may be a genetic defect, for example in Klinefelter’s syndrome, a chromosomal mutation that causes a disruption in testosterone synthesis.

For more information about Klinefelter’s syndrome, we recommend our page on: Klinefelter’s syndrome External factors can also play a role, such as an injury, inflammation or circulatory disorder of the testicles. Another reason is the intake of steroids, so-called anabolic steroids, as used in weight training. This leads to a disturbance of the body’s own regulatory cycle of testosterone production, which takes place predominantly in the testicles.

The body registers the presence of the injected testosterone and signals the testicles to stop production, which in turn causes the organ to shrink. If there is damage to the liver, this leads to a hormonal imbalance. This shifts the male hormone production in favor of the female sex hormone estrogen. This leads to a reduction in the anabolic and growth-promoting effects of testosterone. This can also result in testicular atrophy and even the development of female sexual characteristics such as breast growth.

Associated symptoms

The accompanying symptoms depend on the underlying cause. If, for example, Klinefelter’s syndrome is present, this is accompanied by numerous physical manifestation characteristics. Those affected exhibit low body hair, female breast growth and above-average height.

In the case of liver cirrhosis, the spectrum of symptoms is broad. In addition to the external symptoms, fatigue, listlessness and reduced performance can also occur. Testosterone deficiency in general is accompanied by many other symptoms besides testicular atrophy.

These include a loss of libido, fatigue, reduced body hair or even reduced bone density, which can increase the risk of fractures. In the main article on testosterone deficiency, you will find other symptoms associated with it. The testicles are the site of sperm production. If the volume of the testicles falls below a certain level, the production of functional sperm is no longer possible. If no healthy sperm is synthesized from both testicles, the man is incapable of producing sperm.