Balls (can I say that?) shrinking - does T production also shrink?

[Brenda E]

Quick question.  Today, I noticed that my testicles have become really rather small compared to what they once were.  Since one of my endo's main goals is to reduce testosterone levels to cis female levels, is this a step in the right direction?  Or is the size of one's berries have very little to do with one's testosterone levels?

[Shannon14]

I don't think you can say it's directly proportional, but yes. As they get smaller you should be producing less T. When this happens in relationship to testicular size would be different for everyone.

[katrinaw]

Hi Brenda, both happen, your "berries" shrink over time and retract ( ) not sure on a timeline basis whether they are proportional (chicken or egg  ), but all good either way....

L Katy 

[Ms Grace]

Certainly you produce less semen when they are small (presumably the tadpoles have already become extinct). My balls were rather small to begin with and have shrunk considerably along with my T...but yeah, which causes which? Dunno.

[Brenda E]

Thanks for the responses.  I guess it's a case of waiting and seeing what my next blood test reveals and what insight my endo has.  But shrinking balls is a good sign - not just as an indicator that the HRT is really taking effect physically, but also that it's one more check mark I can put in the mental "yup, you're really trans" column: the loss of those once-prominent signs of manhood is something I'm rather excited about, and it's not made me think for even one second, "My god, you're insane. Stop it right now!"

[Cindy Stephens]

sorry to be pedantic, but most semen is produced in your prostate and seminal vesicle, not the berries.  They produce sperm and a small amount of fluid.  Less than 15% of ejaculate is from the testicles.  I don't know if the prostate also shrinks or not.  I do know that most prostate cancer is fueled by T, so not producing it is a good benefit.

[Wynternight]

My bollocks have all but vanished and whilst I'm not sad to see them go I am worried about having enough tissue for SRS.