The Tool-Kit

Frequently asked questions about the male tackle

The penis, as you have probably discovered, is used for peeing, making babies and generally having fun with. You're very lucky to have one so take care of it.

Malehealth gets more questions about the male tackle than any other subject. We've gone through the lot and tried to answer them in this section. If you read the whole thing you should find the answer to whatever is bugging you. If you can't, drop us an email but remember we can't answer your question individually although we will try to update the site.

First up, here's your tackle in technicolour complete with a few technical terms that we use in the section. 

Sperm are manufactured in the testicles and pass along the epididymis where matured sperm hang out. The epididymis is a microscopically narrow tube 6m long folded into a space of 5cm - an engineering masterpiece. Just before you come the sperm travel along two narrow tubes of muscle called vas deferens. These meet with the seminal vesicles which are behind the bladder just above the prostate gland.

The seminal vesicles and the prostate gland add their own secretions to the semen. These fluids are alkaline which protect the sperm from the acid in the vagina. At orgasm, the semen is propelled from two ejaculatory ducts along the urethra which runs the length of the penis and out of the urethral opening.

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What is the penis made of?

The penis is basically three cylinders of spongy erectile tissue full of blood vessels. The urethra, the body's outlet tube for both sperm and urine (although only one at a time), passes through the middle of the smallest of these - the corpus spongiosum - which is found on the underside of the penis. The corpus spongiosum expands at the tip to form the head of the penis called the glans. The glans is protected by the foreskin.

Why is my erect penis bent?

Every penis is bit bent and a slight bend upwards is not just normal but desirable.

You may have a problem if your penis is bent to the left or right so much as to make it difficult or even painful to enter your partner during sex.  It could be condition called Peyronie's. This is not an Italian beer. Bent willies are very common and generally do not cause any problem with intercourse. It's a matter of finding what fits, so to speak. If the 'bend' is particularly bad, surgery can improve matters. 

Can the penis break?

It can fracture if it bashes into an immovable object when erect. The most common cause is probably the woman's pubic bone. It can be healed through surgery and splints.

Why is one testicle hanging lower than the other?

Good question. But we're all like that. It's 100% normal.

How do I check my balls for lumps?

It's pretty easy. It's best to examine your testicles after a warm bath or shower.

• Support your balls in the palm of one hand. Note the size and weight of your testicles. This will help you to detect any changes in the future.  
• Find the epididymis, the tube that carries sperm to the penis. This can be felt at the top and back of each testicle. This is one lump that is supposed to be there.
• Now examine each testicle in more detail by rolling it between your fingers and thumb. Press firmly but gently to feel for any lumps, swellings or changes in firmness.

Examine yourself every couple of months or when you feel like it. Testicular cancer is very uncommon so don't get obsessed with it. But if you do find anything unusual, don't wait for it to disappear or start throbbing - see your doctor.