Male anatomy
Testicles
Those with male anatomy have a scrotal sac (scrotum) that sits underneath the penis. Within the scrotum are two testicles: a left and a right. You might notice that one hangs lower than the other and that one may be slightly bigger than the other — both findings are super normal.
One thing that is not normal is pain. Pain in the testicles CAN be an emergency. If you have new or severe pain in one testicle, swelling of a testicle or pain to touch of one testicle, get to a doctor right away.
The testicles themselves should feel mostly smooth (though there is a lump on the middle upper backside of each testicle that is usually normal). It’s important that you do take a feel every once in a while to make sure there aren’t any other bumps on the testicles (see the link below for more guidance).
I’ve felt sudden pain in my testicles from time to time over the past few years. The pain is really severe but only lasts for a minute. Should I be concerned?
It's tough to say for sure, but any severe pain in the testicles should be taken seriously. I would TRY to bring it up with your doctor, but a physical exam may not be necessary. Let them know that you'd prefer to not do the exam but explain the problem. They might order an ultrasound and/or send you to a urologist (a doctor who specifically deals with penis and testicle issues to make sure this isn’t testicular torsion), OR they might give you some guidance on something called torsion of the appendix testicle (a tiny appendage of the testicle that ISN'T the same as your actual appendix). If this is what’s going on, it’s very manageable. Don’t panic, but try to talk with a doctor as soon as possible.
Body and facial hair
There’s a lot of attention and countless products that are specifically directed at facial hair care. However, many of those with male anatomy are also interested in grooming their private hair. The skin of the private area is just as sensitive as the skin on the face, so proper technique and appropriate products are just as important in avoiding ingrown hairs and razor burn.
What’s a skin bridge?
A skin bridge is a small piece of skin that connects two parts of your penis – specifically the head of the penis to the shaft. The head of the penis (or the glans) generally has a very distinct rim that separates it from the shaft, but skin bridges create more of a smooth appearance around the rim of the glans. They can be in one or two spots or cover a larger portion of the ridge of the glans.
Skin bridges are very common in childhood but generally break or stretch as the penis grows through puberty. However, if you’re through puberty or have a skin bridge that is bothering you (sometimes they can make it difficult to clean all of the crevices down there) talk with your doc. There’s a medicine that will help those bridges break.
Penises
Where to begin? There are so many uncertainties about penis shape and size, but here are the facts (spoiler alert: there’s a HUGE range of “normal” when it comes to penises):
First, what’s the average size? Studies have identified that the average length of an erect penis (pubic bone to tip) is around 5 inches. Size is mostly genetic (believe it or not, your MOM carries these genes) and, no, there aren’t any miracle creams or medications that will make the penis any larger — with one exception. A length less than 3 inches after puberty may have a hormonal cause which a doctor can help address.
Second, are there any sizes or shapes that are problematic? Overall, no! Penises can be wider at the base and narrower at the tip, wider at the tip and narrower at the base, or they may be the same thickness or girth throughout the entire shaft. Even a slight bend in the penis (up, down or to one side) is very common. There is one exception to this as well. Peyronie’s disease is a problematic bend in the penis, usually caused by scarring. Bring it up with your doctor if you have a firm nodule in the bend of the penis, a dent in the shaft, painful erections, painful peeing and/or if the bend is getting worse.
Lastly, noticing any lumps or bumps? STIs (or sexually-transmitted infections) are one cause but there are certainly other more common culprits. A lymphocele is a small bump under the shaft of the penis and is usually caused by lots of ejaculation. It should go away within a few days or so. Fordyce spots are little sweat glands that might give the skin on your foreskin or testicles the look of chicken skin. Super normal and nothing to worry about. Finally, pearly penile papules are little dewdrops around the glans. Again, normal and may go away with time.