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Published on: 5/6/2025

Why Might Testicles Shrink with Age or Due to Hormonal Treatments Like TRT?

Testicles can shrink naturally with age and may also get smaller with hormonal treatments like TRT because the body reduces its own testosterone production.

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Explanation

As men get older, testicles sometimes become smaller because the natural production of testosterone slows down. This is a normal part of aging, like how some parts of our body change over time. When a man uses testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), the body notices the extra testosterone from outside. Because of this, the brain sends fewer signals to the testicles to make their own testosterone. When the testicles are not working as much, they can shrink in size. This is called testicular atrophy. It happens because the signals that normally tell the testicles to produce testosterone are reduced, so they do less work. With aging, the cells in the testicles naturally become less active, and with TRT, the added hormones make the body think it doesn’t need as much natural production. Both aging and hormonal treatments can lead to testicular shrinkage in different ways. If someone is concerned about these changes, it's important to talk with a doctor who can explain what is happening and help decide if any changes in treatment are needed.

(References)

  • Varela-Cives R, Mendez-Gallart R, Estevez-Martinez E, Rodriguez-Barca P, Bautista-Casasnovas A, Pombo-Arias M, Tojo-Sierra R. A cross-sectional study of cryptorchidism in children: testicular volume and hormonal function at 18 years of age. Int Braz J Urol. 2015 Jan-Feb;41(1):57-66. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2015.01.09. PMID: 25928530; PMCID: PMC4752057.

  • Cheng H, Zhang X, Li Y, Cao D, Luo C, Zhang Q, Zhang S, Jiao Y. Age-related testosterone decline: mechanisms and intervention strategies. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2024 Nov 14;22(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s12958-024-01316-5. PMID: 39543598; PMCID: PMC11562514.

  • Tenover JS. Declining testicular function in aging men. Int J Impot Res. 2003 Aug;15 Suppl 4:S3-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901029. PMID: 12934044.

  • Updated 2022 Feb 10]. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): [MDText.com](http://mdtext.com/), Inc.; 2000-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278998/
  • Palacios A, McClure RD, Campfield A, Swerdloff RS. Effect of testosterone enanthate on testis size. J Urol. 1981 Jul;126(1):46-8. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)54372-4. PMID: 6788960.

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