Let's be honest. When someone brings up the biggest testicles in the world, your brain probably goes to one of two places: a record-breaking medical anomaly or a massive whale.
You're right on both counts. But the details are way weirder than you'd expect.
Size is relative. In the biological world, there’s a massive difference between "absolute mass" and "relative size." One will blow your mind because of the sheer weight, while the other is shocking because it basically takes up an animal’s entire torso.
The human record: A heavy burden
In the world of medical history, one name stands out, though it’s a story defined more by tragedy than triumph. Wesley Warren Jr. from Las Vegas became a global sensation for all the wrong reasons. At his peak, he was carrying a scrotum that weighed roughly 132 pounds.
Think about that for a second. That is the weight of a fully grown adult woman or about nine bowling balls.
It wasn’t just a "big" part of him; it was a cage. He had to wear a specially modified hoodie as pants just to contain the mass. Walking was an ordeal. Sitting was a tactical maneuver.
This wasn't some weird fluke of virility. It was a condition called scrotal lymphedema.
What exactly is scrotal lymphedema?
Basically, the lymphatic system in the scrotum stops draining fluid correctly. The tissue starts to thicken, and the area fills with lymph fluid. It just keeps growing. In some parts of the world, this is caused by a parasitic infection called lymphatic filariasis (often called elephantiasis), but in the U.S., it’s often "idiopathic," which is just a fancy doctor word for "we don't really know why this happened."
Another man, Dan Maurer from Michigan, went through a similar nightmare. His scrotum grew to 100 pounds. For years, doctors just told him to lose weight.
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"Just hit the gym," they said.
But no amount of cardio was going to shrink a 100-pound mass of fluid and tissue. Eventually, after seeing Wesley Warren Jr. on a TLC documentary, Maurer realized he had the same condition. Both men eventually underwent massive, life-altering surgeries to remove the growth. Dr. Joel Gelman, a specialist at the University of California, Irvine, famously performed these 14-hour marathons of reconstructive surgery.
The North Atlantic Right Whale: Nature’s absolute heavyweight
If we move away from human medical anomalies and look at the natural world, the undisputed king of the biggest testicles in the world is the North Atlantic right whale.
The numbers are genuinely hard to visualize.
Each testicle of a right whale weighs about 1,100 pounds.
Together, the pair clocks in at over a ton. To put that in perspective, their "equipment" weighs as much as a small car or a full-grown rhinoceros.
Why so big?
You might think it's because they are huge animals, but even the Blue Whale—the largest animal to ever live—has testicles that are tiny compared to the Right Whale.
It all comes down to "sperm competition."
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Right whales aren't aggressive fighters. They don't have tusks like narwhals or the sheer aggression of some other species. Instead, they fight in the womb. Or, more accurately, in the female.
Multiple males will mate with a single female in a short window. The male that can "flush out" the previous suitor's efforts and replace it with a massive volume of his own sperm is the one who wins the genetic lottery. It’s a game of quantity.
- Weight per testicle: ~500kg (1,100 lbs)
- Total mass: ~1,000kg
- Percentage of body weight: About 2%
The Tuberous Bushcricket: The relative champion
Now, if you want to talk about who is the most "gifted" in proportion to their body, the whale loses. Badly.
The title for the biggest testicles in the world relative to body size belongs to the Tuberous bushcricket (Platycleis affinis).
In 2010, researchers at the University of Derby found that this insect's testicles make up 14% of its total body mass.
If a 200-pound man had that same ratio, his testicles would weigh 28 pounds. Imagine walking around with two massive bowling balls between your legs.
The surprising twist
Here is the kicker: Even though the bushcricket has massive organs, it doesn't actually produce more sperm per "session."
Scientists like Dr. Karim Vahed found that the extra size actually allows the male to mate more frequently. Instead of putting all his energy into one giant "dose," he can go from female to female without needing a long refractory period.
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It’s about endurance, not just power.
Why size isn't always what it seems
When we talk about the biggest testicles in the world, we often assume it’s a sign of health or "alpha" status. In reality, it’s usually one of two things:
- A survival strategy: Like the whale or the cricket, it’s a way to ensure their DNA survives in a highly competitive mating environment.
- A medical crisis: In humans, any significant or rapid enlargement is almost always a sign of a problem, like a hydrocele, a hernia, or the lymphedema mentioned earlier.
For most mammals, including humans, "normal" is actually quite small. The average human testicle is about the size of a large grape or a small plum, roughly 18 to 25 cubic centimeters in volume.
Actionable insights for human health
While the records are fascinating, they serve as a good reminder to pay attention to your own body. Most people don't think about "testicular health" until something feels off.
If you notice changes, don't ignore them.
- The Monthly Check: Once a month, usually after a warm shower when the skin is relaxed, feel for any lumps, firm areas, or changes in size.
- Symmetry is a Lie: It is completely normal for one to be slightly larger than the other or for one to hang lower.
- Dull Aches: If you feel a "heavy" sensation or a dull ache in the lower abdomen or scrotum, it might not be a "big" problem, but it’s worth a visit to a urologist. It could be a varicocele (enlarged veins) which is very common and treatable.
- Sudden Swelling: If things start growing rapidly, like the cases of Dan Maurer or Wesley Warren Jr., do not wait. Early intervention for things like hydroceles or lymphedema makes surgery much less risky.
The world of biological extremes is weird. Whether it’s a ton of whale anatomy or an insect that’s 14% reproductive organs, nature clearly has a sense of humor—and a very specific set of priorities when it comes to survival.
Next Step: Perform a simple self-exam this week. It takes thirty seconds and is the best way to know what's "normal" for you, so you'll spot an "abnormal" change immediately.