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Men's Health

All OPTIONS and WYPS services are available to young boys and young men of all sexual orientations.

Testicular Self Examination 

Men over the age of 15 should examine their testes, just like women should examine their breasts. Unfortunately testicular cancer is more common in young men and by self-examination monthly, any lump or changes occurring, rapid early curable treatment could be sought.
 
The easiest way to self examine your testicles is to get to know them as normal and if any changes do occur then you would become aware of them.
 
The TCRC recommends following these steps every month (keep in mind that the point is not to find something wrong, it is to learn what everything feels like so that you will know if something changes):
  • Stand in front of a mirror. Check for any swelling on the scrotal skin.
  • Examine each testicle with both hands. Place the index and middle fingers under the testicle with the thumbs placed on top. Roll the testicle gently between the thumbs and fingers -- you shouldn't feel any pain when doing the exam. Don't be alarmed if one testicle seems slightly larger than the other, that's normal.
  • Find the epididymis, the soft, tubelike structure behind the testicle that collects and carries sperm. If you are familiar with this structure, you won't mistake it for a suspicious lump. Cancerous lumps usually are found on the sides of the testicle but can also show up on the front. Lumps on the epididymis are not cancerous.
  • If you find a lump on your testicle, see a doctor, preferably a urologist, right away. The abnormality may not be cancer, it may just be an infection. But if it is testicular cancer, it will spread if it is not stopped by treatment. Waiting and hoping will not fix anything. Please note that free floating lumps in the scrotum that are not attached in any way to a testicle are not testicular cancer. When in doubt, get it checked out - if only for peace of mind!
 
Other signs of testicular cancer to keep in mind are:
 
  • Any enlargement of a testicle
  • A significant loss of size in one of the testicles
  • A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
  • A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin
  • A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
  • Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
  • Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
 
 
 (Testicular Cancer Resource Center)
 
Other Men’s health issues: