Instruments and clothing | Orchidometer/Tanner Balls 3/3

Views: 4864 Created: 2008.06.30

First post

When I first realized I had a medical fetish, I looked at as many books as I could. In the book "What's happening to my body?" book for boys, it's mentioned that the doctor will use a device called an orchidometer to measure the volume of the testes.

I've got to tell you honestly, I grew up in the 70s-80s, and the pediatrician NEVER measured the size of my testicles with this device. Has anyone ever had this done and what was the experience like? Embarrasing, or fairly normal in regard to the rest of the exam?

IndianMaster5

Haven't had it done to me medically or otherwise.

Would love to include it in both settings.

AndrewSW

I had it done in the 80s

Like JakeNewYork and Bob1952, I think it's mainly done when there are issues with growth and development.

Amunro19

Sorry for being niaeve but can someone tell me what exactly tanner balls and an Orchidomer is ? Sounds interesting way of measuring development . But no idea what this is

AndrewSW

Sorry for being niaeve but can someone tell me what exactly tanner balls and an Orchidomer is ? Sounds interesting way of measuring development . But no idea what this is

Tanner balls are one kind of orchidometer. They are a series of testicle shaped beadslinked together on a string, each marked with the volume (ml) that that particular bead represents.The doctor compares the testicle with the beads to find one of matching size and records the volume. If you have a look a JakeNewYork's avatar you will see a set.

Amunro19

Thanks Andrew . Ah yes but he has still got to make manual comparison . I was thinking calipersvor maybe displaced volume as a way of measuring testicle development.

AndrewSW

I don't think it's usually necessary for the measurements to be especially accurate, it's more to show a trend over time.

In my case I had regular exams over approx 18 months. For the first 9 months or so there was no chnage at all in the size of my testes or penis, then a noticeable change over about 3 months before settling down again.

titusmountjoy

I've had it done in a play exam before. It's very sexy and intimidating because I wanted to "measure up" as it were. Great fun being tugged and felt by Doc in one hand while he has the Tanner in the other.

barecode

I love the orchidometer as @titusmountjoy said it's very sexy and intimidating and in a school medical exam it's perfect to measure the patient development.

joeqs80

Never had this done in any exams that I've had.

Examined

That never happened in any medicals I had growing up, but the doctor did examine my testes, which I imagine was checking for them having descended and later for size and any abnormalities.

Morty

Yes. I had an andrologist use this device to measure my testicles. He said I was at the upper range in volume, for whatever that's worth.