Testicular Self-Exam: 5 Steps to Check Your Testicles for Cancer and Why It’s Important

It may be uncomfortable to discuss the need to examine your genitals, but it’s an important part of staying healthy. And it may even help detect the early changes of testicular cancer or prevent its spread. Testicular cancer is highly curable, especially when caught early. The testicular self-exam is a way that can help catch testicular cancer early.

Because the testicles are outside the body, this makes it easy to examine them. Testicular self-exams at home can be useful in finding any changes in between annual health checkups. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of the testicular self-exam and how to do it the right way.

Why should you check your testicles for cancer?

Monthly testicular self-examinations can help you notice changes in your testicles earlier. This could lead to early diagnosis of testicular cancer and a better chance at being cured. More than 90% of people with testicular cancer can be cured if it’s caught before it spreads to other parts of the body. 

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in adult males younger than 45 years, and one of the most curable. It may not cause any pain, so it may be hard to know it’s present in the early stages. Self-exams of the testicles can help to detect subtle differences in the normal look and feel of your testicles.

How do you check testicles for cancer?

A testicular self-examination is a convenient way to check for any changes that might be cancer. And it’s easily done in the privacy of your own home. To do a testicular self-exam, follow these five steps:

1. Stand in a warm shower or after a warm bath. This is when the tissues around your testicles are most relaxed.

2. Examine one testicle at a time. Firmly but gently roll one testicle between your thumb and fingers. Feel the entire testicle. Notice any lumps or bumps, no matter how small.

3. Feel surrounding structures. Feel the soft structure in the scrotum sitting on top of the testicle (epididymis).

4. Follow the vas deferens. Use your fingers and thumb to follow the tube-like structure (vas deferens) that leads from the testicle toward the body. This tube carries sperm from the epididymis to the penis.

5. Repeat on the other side. Repeat all steps on the other testicle, epididymis, and vas deferens.

It’s OK if one testicle is a little bigger than the other. But keep in mind that they should both feel about the same degree of smoothness and firmness. Pain or lumps in any part of the testicle, vas deferens, or epididymis are abnormal.

What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?

Symptoms of the early stages of testicular cancer are usually mild. The most common symptoms include:

• A firm, painless lump on one testicle

• Swelling of the scrotum

• Mild pain in the scrotum or groin

• Severe pain in the groin (in rare cases)

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If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms can be more severe, such as:

• Loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss

• Cough

• Back pain

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal bleeding

• Bone pain

• Neurologic symptoms

What might a testicular lump be confused for?

If you have a testicular lump, pain, or swelling, your primary care provider will consider a number of common medical conditions like:

• Twisting of the testicle inside the scrotum (testicular torsion)

• Trauma

• A collection of fluid (hydrocele)

• An enlarged blood vessel (varicocele)

• Infection (epididymitis or orchitis)

• Inguinal hernia

• Kidney stones

• Cyst

• A collection of trapped sperm (spermatocele)

• Other types of cancer, such as a lymphoma

It’s important to have any lumps, swelling, or pain checked out right away. Some noncancerous causes of testicular lump can result in the loss of your testicle if not treated properly.

How often should you check your testicles?

The Testicular Cancer Foundation (TCF) recommends doing a self-exam in the shower once a month. By doing the exam regularly, you’ll have a better idea of what feels normal and notice any subtle changes.

What should you do if you find something irregular in your testicles?

If you do regular testicular self-exams, you might be able to detect changes earlier. If something seems irregular or feels different, let your primary healthcare provider know. They’re trained to do a formal exam and can help you decide the next steps to take. If you have severe pain or swelling, make sure to seek urgent medical care. 

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Written by:

Frank Schwalbe, MD

Frank Schwalbe, MD, is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine. He has practiced anesthesiology for 30 years.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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