Testicular Self Examination
Regular testicular self examination, a painless procedure performed on a monthly basis beginning at age 14, allows men to become familiar with their testicles and detect testicular cancer at an early stage. Not all testicular abnormalities result in a diagnosis of cancer. Pain or burning upon urination and blood in semen are symptoms that require an immediate call to a urologist. Patients also should seek the care of an urologist if they feel:
- A lump in or on a testicle(s)
- Significant changes in testicle(s) size
- A dull ache in the groin or a heaviness in the scrotum
- Pain or discomfort in the testicle(s) or scrotum
- Enlarged or tender breasts
How to Perform a Self Examination
Testicular self examinations are best performed after a warm bath or shower because heat relaxes the scrotum making detection of an abnormality easier.
Stand facing a mirror, with the index and middle fingers under the testicle and the thumb placed on top. Roll the testicle gently between the thumb and forefinger to feel for any lumps, hardness, swelling or size differences. Both testicles are close to the same size but not exactly; look for an unusual size difference.
Find the soft structure (epidiymis) behind the testicle that collects and carries sperm. The structure feels like tubes. Typically, lumps in the epidiymis are not cancerous but require medical attention.
In addition to testicular cancer, other abnormalities to check for are:
- A pimple or ingrown hair or rash
- A free floating lump in the scrotum
- A lump in the epidiymis
