Could i be Infertile?

[Andrew_]

I recently had an encounter with fairly hot water streaming on to my testicles.  Afterwards, they were kind of red, looked funny and felt funny.  Is it possible, due to this one incendent that i might be infertile?  or could it have just drastically lowered my sperm count for a while?  should i see my doctor?

[stillcurious]

How long ago was this encounter?  Do they look and feel back to normal yet?

Heat can have an impact on your fertility, but it will most likely be a temporary impact.  I even read an article one time about people soaking their boys in hot water as a form of birth control.  Of course, I am no doctor, but from the things I have read and learned, I dont think you have anything to worry about, especially if you didnt cause visible or lasting damage to them.  I would guess you would have to be more concerned about scalding your scrotum than permanently impacting your fertility. They are always making millions of new sperm, so you will probably be back to full potency in a couple days.  Of course, if they don't look and feel back to normal in a couple days, or if there are any sores, I would think you should get it looked at.

[Andrew_]

It's been about a month or two.  They seem back to normal.  I'll notice a very minor pain in them everyonce in a great while--but doesn't last any length of time.  I notice that sometimes, they'll feel rather cold, like they aren't generating any heat--and other's they'll be rather warm.  i don't know if this is normal or not--but i might just be paranoid as i worry about this.

[stillcurious]

I guess the question is really: can you ejaculate, and does your sperm have relatively the same color and consistency as before?  If so, I bet you have nothing to worry about.  This means your testes are still functioning, producing millions of new sperm cells every day.

I would not be concerned about the temperature issue.  Testes are sensitive to temperatures, but unable to directly regulate their own temperature.  When you are hot, you scrotum will sag to give your testes some distance from your body so they don't absorb too much of your body heat but are able to stay cool.  When you are cold, your scrotum will constrict so they hug up next to your body to absorb body heat and stay warm.  This is how they keep your swimmers the optimal temperature.

Like I said, the important thing is that all the right fluids flow as they should.  If this is happening, I think you are safe.

[stillcurious]

also, an occassional slight pain in one of your "boys" that goes away quickly is normal and nothing to worry about.  I have been to see my family doctor and a urologist recently, and discussed this with both of them.  Just goes with the territory and is part of having a couple of sensitive organs dangling between your legs.

[Andrew_]

Alright--thanks for the advice.  Makes sense.  I might see my doctor anyway just to be sure.