Testicular Self-Exam
What is a testicular self-exam?
A testicular self-exam is a cancer-screening test that men can do themselves. The purpose of the exam is to look for any unusual lumps, swellings, tenderness, or excess fluid in or around the testicles. These are possible signs of cancer. Testicular cancer can grow quickly, especially in young men. Treatment can be more effective when the cancer is found early.
The testicles are part of the male reproductive organs. They are in a sac of loose skin, called the scrotum or scrotal sac, which is below and behind the penis.
Who should do a testicular self-exam?
Your healthcare provider may recommend regular self-exams of your testicles. Checking your genital area can help you find signs of sexually transmitted infection, such as genital warts, or other problems that you might not notice otherwise.
How do I do a testicular exam?
To perform the exam:
- Stand in front of a mirror and look for any signs of swelling.
- Support each testicle with one hand and feel it with your other hand.
- Roll each testicle between the thumb and fingers, feeling for any unusual lumps. Lumps may be as small as a grain of rice and are usually quite firm, like hard rubber. (It is normal to feel a soft cordlike structure on the top and back of each testicle. This is the epididymis, which is the tube through which sperm pass during an orgasm.)
- Check for areas that feel tender.
Developed by RelayHealth.
Adult Advisor 2012.1 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2012-01-22
Last reviewed: 2011-11-21
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
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