Testicular Health


Introduction

Testes (balls) are two male sex organs which hang below the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum.  They produce sperm and the hormone testosterone. 

 

Not only are they sensitive to injury, they can also be affected by a number of problems.  One of the most serious (but rare) is testicular cancer.  This happens when abnormal cells in the testes begin growing in an uncontrolled manner. 

 

According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 8,250 cases of testicular cancer diagnosed each year in the United States. 

 

WebMD.com and MayoClinic.com both offer excellent information about testicular cancer. 

 

The Bad

Testicular cancer is most common among White men and is uncommon in African-American and Asian men. 

 

The Good

Testicular cancer is quite rare in the United States.  According to the American Cancer Society, a man’s lifetime risk of getting testicular cancer is approximately one in 300. 

 

The good news about testicular cancer is that when it is found and treated early, it has a very high cure rate.  It is considered to be among the most curable types of cancer, especially when it is detected at an early stage.

 

Why it’s LGBT

Gay, bisexual, and transgender men may be at an increased risk for testicular cancer.   Be sure to talk to your health care provider about annual testing for testicular cancer.

 

What to Do

Conduct a testicular self exam once a month (see “Tools” below) and report any abnormalities to your healthcare provider.  These include:

  • Small, painless lump in a testicle
  • Feeling of heaviness in the testicle
  • Enlarging male breasts or breast tenderness
  • Enlargement of the testicle
  • A new collection of fluid or blood in the scrotum around the testicle
  • Pain in the testicle

Tools

Testicular Self Exam (TSE). A testicular self-examination may detect testicular cancer at an early stage. Many testicular cancers are first discovered by self-examination as a painless lump which may be the size of a pea or an enlarged testicle.  Nobody knows your body better than you—use your knowledge of your own body to detect changes and report them to your healthcare provider.

 

Testicular exam by your medical provider. A testicular examination includes a complete physical examination of the groin and genital organs (penis, scrotum, and testicles) by your medical provider. He/ She will feel the organs and examine them for lumps, swelling, shrinking or other signs of an abnormality.

 

Testicular Ultrasound. Ultrasound is a very safe and effective test that uses sound waves to produce an image of organs and other structures in the body.  It is used to rule out other possible causes of an enlarged or painful testicle.