Testicular Size and Texture Changes After Ejaculation
Yes, it is completely normal for testicles to feel softer and appear slightly smaller immediately after ejaculation, with return to normal size and firmness within hours to the next day.
Physiological Basis
The changes you're experiencing are well-documented physiological responses to ejaculation:
Testicular volume decreases immediately after ejaculation and returns to baseline within hours, as demonstrated in animal studies that directly measured testicular dimensions during the sexual response cycle 1
Testicular consistency becomes softer during erection and firmer after ejaculation, though the immediate post-ejaculatory period involves fluid shifts that can create a temporarily "mushy" texture 1
Blood flow changes significantly during and after ejaculation, with increased testicular vascularity during erection followed by diminished vascularity immediately after ejaculation 1, 2
The Mechanism
The testicular changes serve the erectile and ejaculatory functions:
During sexual arousal and erection, testicular volume increases by approximately 50% due to increased blood flow and vascular engorgement 1
Testicular temperature rises during the erectile phase, followed by reduction during ejaculation 1
After ejaculation, blood flow to the supratesticular artery increases while internal iliac artery flow decreases, representing a redistribution of blood flow in the reproductive system 2
These hemodynamic changes persist for 30-90 minutes after ejaculation before returning to baseline 2
What This Means for You
The "soft and mushy" feeling you describe is the normal post-ejaculatory state when testicular engorgement resolves and blood flow redistributes 1. The return to normal size and firmness by the next day represents the expected recovery timeline 1, 2.
When to Seek Evaluation
You should consult a urologist if you experience:
- Persistent pain or discomfort in the testicles that doesn't resolve 3
- Progressive testicular atrophy (shrinking over weeks/months rather than temporary post-ejaculatory changes) 4
- Hard lumps or masses that remain palpable when the testicle returns to normal size 3
- Asymmetric changes where one testicle behaves differently than the other 3
The key distinction is that your changes are temporary and cyclical (related to ejaculation), whereas pathological conditions cause persistent or progressive changes 3, 4.