Orchidometer/Tanner Balls

I had an orchidometer used on me at several exams from the late 1970s through mid 1980s. I definitely remember the bead-shaped ones but I am 99% certain there was another kind that was different sized oval holes punched out of little metal tags in a set.

"Swiss" Orchidometer ?

When I was younger, I read a website (quite possibly this one: http://puberty101.com/boys/orchidometer/ ) describing an orchidometer. The only graphic was the simple line drawing, so I didn't realize that it was a three-dimensional set of beads on a string but rather a flat plastic piece with different sized holes in it like a bolt gauge sizer (http://www.4custom.com/e/Bolt%20Gauge%20Blue%20Front.jpg). With that in mind, I wonder if such a device would be practical. It would certainly be easy to make -- all it would take is to size a printout (like this one that's a little better than the first link http://growingupboys.info/images/orchidometer.jpg ) to scale, carefully transfer the shapes to a piece of sturdy material (even cardboard should work), and cutting out the openings. The result would look like Swiss cheese with all the holes (hence the title of this post).

Has anyone here tried making something like this? I'm considering taking a shot at it just for fun.

But how would you use your 2D orchidometer? Would you just hold it up against someone's testicle and compare? I think the benefit of the actual 3D orchidometer is that the examiner can feel your testicles and then feel the correct "ball" and find one that matches. I'm not sure how well this would work in 2D.

It looks like you can buy a real one for about $20:

https://www.endocrine.org/store/medical-instruments-and-models/orchidometer

Perhaps a better way to measure testicle size would be to have something that resembles a string of various standard size measuring spoons. You dip your balls into the a cup to match the dimensions of the standard cup size.

i would not suggest an adjustable measuring device for the obvious safety risk.

I was thinking just try to put each 2D hole around a testicle (don't try and force it! it'll hurt!). If it can't go through, try a bigger hole until you get to one that'll fit, and you've got the measurement.

Of course, I didn't realize a real orchidometer was so available and affordable (I've only ever seen them on ebay for much higher prices before).

Although the idea of using measuring cups is a good one too. Plus, you can giggle knowingly the next time someone in your house makes cookies 😃

Has anyone considered the use of calipers? They would in any case be more accurate in measuring than otherwise comparing testicles to an orchidometer with the Mark I eyeball.

I'm certain it would be easy to construct a pair with for instance cup/curved tips that encompass the extremities of a testicle, or else a pair with very wide tips to avoiding any potential pinching while measuring.

I wouldn't advise the use of calipers. Too risky for injury. That's the "adjustable measuring device" I was alluding to.

This kind of obsessing over minutia is fun for those who like to obsess and busy themselves with sexually charged medical matters ...

Spankos do it in the same manner when they play their spanking games ... 😃

This kind of obsessing over minutia is fun for those who like to obsess and busy themselves with sexually charged medical matters

Very well said. This kind of attention to detail is one reason we enjoy medfet.

I know it comes up every now and again but for new members or anyone hasn't seen other posts, I'm wondering how many other guys have had an orchidometer used on them at some point in life. They are sort of a big part of the roots of my medical fetish and would love to talk to or hear from others.

Matt2327 - Google "Rochester Orchidometer" images showing the cutout ellipse device you discuss. Which is not any more or less accurate than the Prader device. Both provide quick estimates of testicular volume. I'm not sure either is more useful than a mere guesstimate. The most accurate are ultrasonographic measurements of testicular volume.

I had the volume of my testicles measured with an orchidometer by an endocrinologist when I was about 14 years old. The real-life exam was short and completely unspectacular. However, in my fantasy, this forms part of the exam but in a more thorough and embarassing manner.

As far as I know, in real life, an orchidometer is only used to monitor the progress of puberty and thus grown-up men are in general not examined that way.

My first experiences was when i was around the age of 12. The doctor was going to examine my development. So after he checked my penis and the normal testicle check, he got the Orchidometer and checked the seizes of my testicles.

after the exam at the age of 12, a doctor used the orchidometer two more times on me.

now it was become part of my fantasy, i like to hear others experiences. and i always want to buy an orchidometer myself

I am too old for the Orchidometer to have been used on my balls when I was young.

I relied on my Doctor having a good feel!

I have read in some relations of examinations of boys that sometimes a nurse or a doctor used an orchidometer to measure the size of the balls of a boy teenager or even a kid to check that his balls were normal for his age.

it could happen at a pediatrician office or during a school physical

It never happened to me but I am french and may be it was more practiced in the United States

Did it happen to some of you and in what situations ?

I think they are mainly used in exams where the purpose is to track development. I was very much a late starter and had regular exams from 15 to 18 in the 1980s. Stretched Penis Length and Testicular Volume ( using a bead orchidometer ) were measurements recorded at each exam

Nice thread. Like several others, I was also a "late starter" (Delayed puberty) and had some exams in my teens where the doctor measured my balls with an orchidometer and penis (soft and stretched) with a tapemeasure, repeating the size and comment about my tanner stage as he wrote it down. It became the start of this life-long medical fetish...and love to chat/share/compare with others who are turned on by it.

I posted earlier in the thread. I was not a late starter. I guess about average. But I was in a program that involved tracking development and doing regular Tanner staging. This was late 70s through mid 80s.

had some exams in my teens where the doctor measured my balls with an orchidometer and penis (soft and stretched) with a tapemeasure,

Out of curiosity: when you say your penis was measured soft and stretched, do you mean soft/flaccid and erect? Or do you actually mean soft/flaccid and stretched while still flaccid?

Just asking because it seem there to be different things/feelings involved between the two different states. And if he measured you while stretched and flaccid, that would imply you could remain in that condition without developing an erection, not something all males would be able to do I guess ...

Out of curiosity: when you say your penis was measured soft and stretched, do you mean soft/flaccid and erect? Or do you actually mean soft/flaccid and stretched while still flaccid?

Just asking because it seem there to be different things/feelings involved between the two different states. And if he measured you while stretched and flaccid, that would imply you could remain in that condition without developing an erection, not something all males would be able to do I guess ...

He can answer for himself, of course, but as I had it done, too, I can say that IF I got an erection, they would measure at that time, even if they had already measured stretched. But generally, when soft, they would just pull out as far as possible without hurting and measure against a kind of caliper. It's called "penile anthropometry" and you can Google it to find more basics about it and about methods.

It's called "penile anthropometry" and you can Google it to find more basics about it and about methods.

Tnx. That's a cool term, sounds very old-fashioned and embarrassing, like something out of an early 20th century textbook. 😃

A good term to add to my list of sexually related medical terms.

Tanner balls are rather subjective so it might be necessary for two doctors to examine at the same time and compare findings.

However if there were still uncertainty, A modern more accurate way of measuring would be to use ultrasound. This would involve coating the scrotum with jelly and scope for quite a lot of manipulation of probe and testicles.

Tanner balls are rather subjective so it might be necessary for two doctors to examine at the same time and compare findings.

However if there were still uncertainty, A modern more accurate way of measuring would be to use ultrasound. This would involve coating the scrotum with jelly and scope for quite a lot of manipulation of probe and testicles.

I had Tanner staging done regularly and, yes, they always did have more than one person do it. And they used both the Prader orchidometer and one that is punched holes in a set of cards, I think that is the Rochester orchidometer. This was in the late 70s through 80s so no ultrasound was done.

Wow never knew about this thanks for the post

I never had this done when I was growing up but I'm not going to lie I kinda wish that I did have this done

I was sent to a specialist when at 14 I showed no signs if puberty. That doctor cafrefully compared my testicle size to some plastic beads. He gave me hormone therapy and kept close measurements on my development.

I never had this done when I was growing up but I'm not going to lie I kinda wish that I did have this done

I think it comes in and out of commonality. I had it done over a period of time in the 70s and 80s, then for a while, it seemed to be less common except for very specific purposes. From what I understand, it is coming back a little, now.

I think it comes in and out of commonality. I had it done over a period of time in the 70s and 80s.

So again I never had this done so do you mind explaining how this is perform? Are you lying down or standing up?

So again I never had this done so do you mind explaining how this is perform? Are you lying down or standing up?

I had it done both laying and standing but I think the preference for them is that you are laying down. It was one part of a full set of measurements done each time as part of a detailed Tanner assessment and overall growth assessment/tracking, but there are more instances of the orchidometer being used alone and for testicle volume and amount of body hair to be a general indicator of your Tanner stage (like for sports, etc.) But I was part of a larger program and they measured everything. Even our hands and feet and head circumference and various proportions.

The orchidometer is strictly to gauge the volume of testicles.

I never have had this done in real life or a play exam, but would love to have it incorporated into a play exam someday.