Testicular health worries & self-checks: getting past embarrassment

Lumps and swellings can have other causes, like fluid or enlarged veins. But a clinician needs to check to be sure, and an ultrasound is a quick, painless way to look.

To a doctor or nurse, a testicle check is routine, no different from looking in an ear. What feels huge to you is ordinary to them.

Testicular cancer is uncommon and usually very treatable. Not knowing doesn’t change what’s happening in your body, but knowing gives you choices.

In a U.S. survey, 41% of men said they were told as children that men don’t complain about health issues. Getting checked is not complaining. It’s looking after yourself and the people who count on you.

Most often, the first sign is a lump on the testicle. The testicle may also swell or get bigger. Some testicular cancers cause no symptoms until later.

• A family history of testicular cancer
• A past testicular cancer (germ cell tumor)
• A testicle that didn’t move down into the scrotum as a baby (undescended testicle)

If any of these apply to you, talk with your clinician about how often to check.

Testicular cancer usually can be treated successfully. Nearly 95 in 100 people diagnosed are alive 5 years later compared with people without it.

The epididymis is a small, coiled tube on the upper or middle outer side of each testicle. It can feel like a bump, but it’s a normal part of the body. Blood vessels and other tubes can also be mistaken for lumps.

It’s common for one testicle to be slightly larger, or to hang lower than the other.

A hydrocele is fluid that collects around a testicle and causes swelling. It still needs a clinician to check it.

A varicocele is a set of enlarged veins in the scrotum that can cause swelling and lumpiness.

Each check calms the worry for a little while, which teaches the brain to check again. Over time, the relief gets shorter and the urge gets stronger.

• Get any current lump checked properly, once
• Ask your clinician how often (if at all) you should self-check
• Write that plan down and follow it
• When the urge comes between checks, notice it and let it pass

If health worry is affecting sleep, work or relationships, a therapist can help. Talking therapy is often used for health anxiety. Your clinical provider can help you find one.

Things you could say

• “I’d like an appointment about a lump I’ve noticed.”
• “It’s a private issue. I’d rather explain to the doctor.”
• “Can I see a doctor this week?”

• Start with what you noticed and when
• Ask what they’re going to do before they start
• It’s okay to ask for a chaperone or a clinician of a particular gender, if available
• Ask them to repeat anything you didn’t catch

• What do you think it is?
• Do I need any tests, and when?
• When and how will I get results?
• What should make me come back sooner?

• Changes in size and shape during puberty are normal
• Sudden pain is an emergency: tell an adult right away
• A school nurse, doctor or trusted adult can answer questions privately
• Searching online can make things scarier than they are

• Mention it during routine talks about growing up, not as a big sit-down
• Say clearly: “If anything ever hurts down there, tell me straight away. I won’t be embarrassed.”
• Let your teen see a clinician alone for part of a visit if they’d like
• Answer questions plainly, or say “Let’s find out together”

Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, or chat online at cancer.gov/contact.

Community health centers offer care where what you pay depends on your income. Find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time, in the U.S. It’s free and confidential.

Your local doctor or national health service is the best first step. For emotional support, Find A Helpline (findahelpline.com) lists free helplines in many countries.