Sagging Testicles: Causes, Treatments, And When To See A Doctor

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What to know about sagging testicles

Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on January 15, 2025

Typical sagging
Causes
Treatments
Contacting a doctor
FAQ
Summary

As a person ages, the scrotum, the sack that holds the testicles, loses elasticity, and the skin starts to sag. Certain medical conditions can also cause the skin to appear saggy.

As people age, skin loses its elasticity, and the effects of gravity become more noticeable everywhere on the body, including the testicles.

Some treatments can help keep the scrotum from sagging too much, although there is no way to prevent or treat the issue altogether. Sagging testicles, which people call saggy balls, are usually not a cause for concern. However, if they appear with other symptoms, such as pain on one side of the balls or in the prostate, a person should see a doctor.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.

What is typical sagging?

Older male holding a cane — Rafael Elias/Getty Images

The testicles hang inside the scrotum or scrotal sac. The looseness of the skin around the testicles varies among individuals, and in many people, it is naturally reasonably loose. The scrotum helps protect the testicles and provides some impact resistance.

The scrotum also moves in response to heat to protect the delicate testicles and sperm inside. It helps keep the sperm viable by preventing them from becoming too warm or too cold.

In cold weather, the skin tightens as the cremaster muscle pulls the testicles toward the body to keep them warm. In hot conditions, the skin loosens to prevent the testicles from overheating. The looser skin allows the balls to hang away from the warm body and encourages airflow around the scrotum to keep the area cool.

Even in younger people, the testicles typically sag a bit. People generally notice this once they start producing sperm during puberty.

As a person ages, the testicles generally sag more. The process may not be noticeable at first, but by age 50, most people will notice a drastic difference in how much their balls sag.

Causes

Sagging testicles are a typical part of aging. As we age, the skin loses collagen, causing the layers to stretch more.

While this applies to the skin everywhere on the body, it may be more noticeable in certain areas, such as the face and testicles. The scrotum and testicles already hang away from the body, so more stretchy skin and gravity’s efforts can make the effect appear more drastic.

Other times, sagging testicles may result from an underlying issue, such as a varicocele. A varicocele occurs when a vein near the testicles swells up. This swelling can increase blood flow to the testicles, which heats them. The body then lowers the testicles to prevent them from getting too hot.

According to 2023 research, varicoceles appear in up to 15 to 20% of males and may have an association with infertility.

Varicoceles may make a person feel like their testicles are moving or squirming, and they may also notice pain in the area. Anyone experiencing these symptoms alongside sagging testicles should see a doctor. Sometimes, a person will not experience any other symptoms and will not notice that they have the issue.

Treatments

Although age-related sagging in the scrotum is standard, some people may be uncomfortable with its appearance or find that it gets in the way of their daily life — for example, by making it easy to sit accidentally on the testicles. Surgery is the only sure way to resolve the issue, but people can also try various nonsurgical methods, including those below.

Exercises

Several different exercises claim to prevent or treat sagging testicles, although there is no scientific evidence to prove that they work. Still, many people perform exercises to help them work out the muscles in this body area.

Some people say they feel better when doing these exercises, perhaps because they are being proactive. Even if they are ineffective, testicle exercises are unlikely to harm the testicles or worsen the sagging.

Two exercises that some people use are Kegels and testicular holding:

Kegel exercises: Doing basic Kegels by finding and activating the pubococcygeal (PC) muscles may help some people support their penis and testicle health in general. The PC muscles are the muscles that a person uses to hold back their urine stream. The basic Kegel exercise involves contracting the muscles as though trying to cut off the urine stream. As this exercise activates the PC muscles, it may improve the strength of the pelvic floor and help with some issues in the testicles, prostate, and penis.
Testicular holding: Testicular holding is similar to weight training the testicles. Holding the testicles in one hand and pulling downward activates the PC muscles. Doing this for 5 minutes daily may activate the PC muscles more strongly than simple Kegels.

Keeping the skin healthy

As much of the sagging in the testicles is due to aging skin, it may help to keep the skin as youthful as possible.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends several ways to protect and care for the skin, including:

avoiding sun exposure
quitting smoking
drinking less alcohol
maintaining a healthy weight
eating a balanced diet

These tips may help improve skin health, which may slow the progress of saggy testicles.

Surgery

Some surgical options are available to treat overly sagging testicles. These are primarily for people who dislike how their testicles look. These treatments may also help in cases where the person has problems that arise from their testicles, such as accidentally sitting on their testicles too often.

In these cases, a procedure called scrotoplasty may help keep the scrotum from hanging down as far. During a scrotoplasty, the surgeon carefully removes extra skin from the scrotum to let the testicles rest higher up toward the body.

Surgery works to treat saggy balls, but the results are not permanent. The effect will likely wear off over time as the skin stretches with age.

In the case of a varicocele, a surgical procedure called a varicocelectomy treats the underlying issue by tying off the swollen veins. The symptoms should go away as the area heals, which may positively affect the sperm.

Other methods

There is no miracle cure for sagging testicles. People may come across other methods — such as only wearing tight briefs and avoiding sex or masturbation — on internet forums and by word of mouth, but these are not effective methods.

Other sources claim that lotions, creams, hormones, or supplements can help. Although they are probably harmless to most people, there is no evidence that these methods will work.

When to contact a doctor

People who notice troubling symptoms, such as pain in their groin or prostate, should see a doctor. Anyone who wants to discuss cosmetic surgery should talk with a doctor about a referral to a trusted cosmetic surgeon.

Frequently asked questions

What causes saggy testicles?

Saggy testicles usually stem from age and are not a cause for concern.

Why can testicles feel deflated?

Saggy testicles may also feel deflated. If age is not a concern, it is important to talk with a doctor if testicles appear deflated or decrease in size, as this may indicate testicular atrophy stemming from infections or underlying conditions.

What happens to testicles as a person gets older?

As a person ages, skin loses collagen, and tissue mass may decrease, resulting in a sagging appearance.

Summary

Sagging testicles are usually a normal part of the aging process. The testicles naturally sag, even at a young age, to protect the sperm inside and keep them viable.

Anyone worried about saggy balls or other associated symptoms should contact a doctor for a diagnosis. In some cases, there may be an underlying issue to treat. In others, cosmetic surgery may help a person feel better.

Dermatology
Men's Health
Seniors / Aging

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Campos LD, et al. (2023). Collagen supplementation in skin and orthopedic diseases: A review of the literature.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023021680
Leslie SW, et al. (2023). Varicocele.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK448113/
What causes our skin to age? (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/anti-aging-skin-care/causes-of-aging-skin

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Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on January 15, 2025

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