Doctor warns men are suffering from 'summer balls' during heatwave as some are more prone than others
To put it mildly, it is absolutely chuffing boiling at the moment.
The summer is well and truly here, and more than that the punishing heatwave with record temperature levels is with us too as people find a way to cope with the heat however they can.
As if that wasn't bad enough, next year is likely to be even hotter as weather events only turn up the heat on the sweltering conditions.
As such, blokes had better beware of 'summer balls', the impact warm weather has on a gentleman's dangling gonads, as the heat changes a few things around down there and the two veg get a bit bigger which runs the risk of them being caught by more things.
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Pretty much every man will know the struggle of making sure one's dangly bits are properly arranged and the fear of being caught rummaging around in public.
The symptoms of 'summer balls'
Dr Chun Tang of Pall Mall Medical suggested that you'd better be on the lookout for 'summer balls', and the signs wouldn't be difficult to spot.
He said: "When things get a bit too toasty in that region, your body tends to let you know in fairly obvious ways.
"The classic signs are a dull, dragging ache in the testicles, a feeling of heaviness, or general discomfort that seems worse after a hot day or standing around a lot.
"Some men also notice mild swelling or that things feel more tender than usual. It is not usually sharp, dramatic pain, more like a persistent 'something’s not quite right' sensation."
The doctor suggested that if you went for a lie down you'd realise the discomfort you're in backs off a bit.
However, if you're feeling a 'sudden, severe pain' then you should definitely get medical attention for that instead of waiting for your heat-bloated testicles to reduce in size again.
"Your testicles are not fans of surprises," the doctor explained.
The cause of 'summer balls'
You might know that one's plums are meant to be a bit cooler than the rest of the body, which is why they're in their own skinbag dangling on the outside.
Unfortunately, the heat of summer can get them to feel a bit too toasty which leads to the veins in your scrotum expanding, which alters the blood flow and gives you a 'heavy, achy feeling'.
"Heat also makes blood vessels relax and widen," the doctor said.
"That is great for cooling you down overall, but it can mean more blood pooling in the scrotal veins. Combine that with dehydration or long days on your feet, and you have got a recipe for discomfort.”
If you already have bigger veins then you're in for more testicular problems.
If you've got something called a varicocele, enlarged veins in the scrotum, they don't move blood as efficiently as they should so when things get really hot your blood can pool more easily.
"It’s similar to a traffic jam in warm weather. If the road is already a bit stretched and the traffic flow is poor, adding heat just makes everything slower and more congested," the doctor said with his comparison of the testicular blood vessels to traffic.
"That is why men with varicoceles often notice more discomfort in summer or after exercise. It is usually harmless but can be annoying, and in some cases, it can affect fertility if left unchecked."
Should you be worried?
This is the big thing, should boys be really worried about this or is this just another thing to put up with due to the sweltering weather?
According to the doctor most men will find this 'more of an inconvenience than a danger'.
He said: "A bit of ache or heaviness on a hot day is usually your body reacting to heat and gravity, not a sign of anything sinister.
"Simple fixes like wearing looser underwear, staying hydrated, taking breaks from sitting, and keeping things cool can make a noticeable difference.
"That said, do not ignore persistent or worsening symptoms. If the discomfort sticks around, one side looks noticeably different, or you feel a distinct 'bag of worms' texture - a classic varicocele description - it is worth getting checked out.
"Sudden severe pain is a red flag, get that seen to straight away. In short, respect your lads, keep them cool, and if they start complaining loudly, listen. Like I said, if in doubt check it out!”
Joe Harker