Men’s health

Testicular self-exam

Testicular cancer affects about 8,000 to 10,000 people a year in the US, around 1 in 250 males over a lifetime. It mostly affects young people, with an average age of 33 at diagnosis. Survival is very high: over 90% at 5 years, and around 99% when the tumour is found while still localised.

There is no screening programme for testicular cancer, and the USPSTF does not recommend routine screening, including self-exam. Most testicular cancers are found by people noticing a change themselves, though, so knowing what is normal for you can help.

How to check

1. The best time is after a warm bath or shower, when the scrotum is relaxed.
2. Stand in front of a mirror and look for swelling or redness. Don’t worry if your testicles don’t look exactly the same or if one hangs lower: some asymmetry is normal.
3. Hold one testicle with your thumb in front and two fingers behind, and gently roll it to feel the whole surface. It should feel smooth, firm and mobile, without lumps or irregular areas, and it shouldn’t hurt.
4. Repeat on the other side.

When to see your physician

• Pain, a sense of pressure or heaviness
• Redness or swelling
• A lump, nodule or hard area
• A change in size, shape, consistency or colour, including shrinkage

If everything feels smooth, firm and mobile, your exam is normal.

This article gives general information and doesn’t replace advice from your physician. Want to know which screenings apply to you? Take the ScreenMe questionnaire.