Expert: Heather Vandeburg L.Ac M.S.O.M. dipl.Ac - 8/28/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi i have had a wierd puberty. I didn't even realise something was wrong till i was 19. when i saw someone else's testicles and realised mine were tiny.(they'd always felt small but i just assumed that was the size they were meant to be). I was quite a hard liver drinking and smoking weed etc. and had a very poor diet. But i stopped all that and have been living well for the last 2.5 years. They have definately grown since then(slowely) but are still really small at 3.5cm long and about 1.5cm wide(sometime a tiny bit wider).
I only started growing facial hair since 19 as well (and got acne on my face). Anyway i thought they would just develop from there at a normal rate but it seems to be at a very slow rate. My guess is that i have(or have created) a hormonal problem. (i had my testosterone checked by GP who said it was medium -low and nothing to worry about but i have no sex-drive and my facial hair grows really really slowly (i can go a week without shaving and barely see a difference)

I saw an article that stimulation (electro-acupuncure) of the arcuate nucleus in rats going through puberty decreased their puberty hormones. Is there something the opposite that can be done to help me. I am concerned about future fertilty but also having small testicle really affects my confidence.

Would really apreciate some advice thanks

ANSWER: Hi Simon,
Acupuncture can help with hormonal balancing.  I have heard that smoking Marijuana can alter hormonal levels and lead to shrinkage or decrease of testicle size, especially if you were smoking during key puberty times.  Getting clean and eating right will go a long way to better health.  I would say that Chinese Herbal medicine would be a good therapy for you to try also.

Regards,
Heather Vandeburg LAc MSOM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi thanks for the answer. I have made an appointment with an acupuncturist. Would it be reasonable for me to go in and say that i have small testicles and i think extremely bad living when i was younger affected my reproductive health/development could you help me?

I know it should be the least of my worries but do you think that an increase in testicle size(in my case) is possible with CHM and acupuncture. Its just im pretty self consious about their size.

Answer
Hi Simon,
If your Acupuncturist practices TCM( Traditional Chinese Medicine) you will talk about your whole bodies functioning.  Everything from Bowel Movements to floaters in your eyes. You should tell that person your concerns.  There is no guarantee that your testicles size will increase.  There are some Chinese herbs that in clinical trials have shown to increase the size of mouse or rat testicles. I know that is not the same but again.  It is worth a try.

Good luck,
Heather Vandeburg LAc MSOM