Why is a testicular exam done?
Testicular exam
This exam can help find the causes of symptoms like pain, inflammation, swelling, or lumps in the testicles. It can also look for problems such as an absent or undescended testicle.
Testicular self-exam
Self-exam helps a man learn the normal size, shape, and weight of his testicles and the area around the scrotum. This helps him notice any changes from normal.
How do you do a testicular self-exam?
- The self-exam is best done during or after a bath or shower—when the scrotum, the skin sac that holds the testicles, is relaxed.
- Stand and place your right leg on a raised surface about chair height. Then gently feel your scrotum until you find the right testicle.
- Roll the testicle gently but firmly between your thumb and fingers of both hands. Carefully feel the surface for lumps. Feel for any change in the size, shape, or texture of the testicle. The testicle should feel round and smooth. It is normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other one.
- Repeat this for the left side. Feel the entire surface of both testicles.
- You may feel the epididymis, the soft tube behind each testicle. Get familiar with how it feels so that you won't mistake it for a lump.
How do you prepare for a testicular exam?
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for an exam done by your doctor. But for comfort, you may want to empty your bladder ahead of time. You will be asked to undress and put on a hospital gown.
A self-exam is painless and takes only a minute. It is best to do it after a bath or shower, when the muscles of the scrotum are warm and relaxed.
What do the results of a testicular exam mean?
Normal: | Each testicle feels firm but not hard. The surface is very smooth, without any lumps or bumps. The spongy, tube-shaped structure (epididymis) may be felt on the top and down the back side of each testicle. One testicle (usually the left) may hang a little lower than the other. One testicle may be a little larger than the other. This difference is usually normal. |
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| There is no pain or discomfort during the exam. | |
Abnormal: | A small, hard lump (often about the size of a pea) is felt on the surface of the testicle, or the testicle is swollen. If you notice a lump or swelling during a self-exam, contact your doctor right away. This may be an early sign of testicular cancer. Prompt treatment gives the best chance for a cure. |
| One or both testicles are absent. If you cannot feel two testicles while performing a self-exam, contact your doctor. You may have an undescended testicle. If you cannot feel both testicles in your baby's scrotum, talk to his doctor. | |
| A soft bunch of thin tubes (often called a "bag of worms" or "spaghetti") is felt above or behind the testicle. This may mean there is an enlarged, twisted vein in the scrotum, called a varicocele. | |
| Sudden pain or swelling in the scrotum is noticed during the exam. This may mean an infection, such as epididymitis. Or it may mean blood flow to the testicle is blocked (testicular torsion). Either of these needs to be checked by a doctor right away. | |
| A lump is felt above the testicle on one side of your scrotum. You may have a spermatocele, which is a painless, fluid-filled cyst found in the epididymis. These cysts are usually not a problem and rarely need treatment. | |
| A lump that is not attached to a testicle is floating in the scrotum. These lumps don't often require treatment but should be checked out by a doctor. |
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