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A monthly self-exam of your testicles will help you learn what's normal so that you can recognize if there is a change. This is important if you have a personal or family history of testicular cancer, or if you have a history of an undescended testicle or other risk factors for testicular cancer. The American Cancer Society does not routinely recommend monthly self-exam to men who do not have an increased risk of testicular cancer. Talk with your doctor to see if testicular self-examination makes sense for you.

The self-exam is simple to do and only takes a few minutes. If you have any questions about this exam or anything you find during the exam, consult your doctor at once.

1. Take a warm bath or shower to relax the scrotum.
2. Stand naked in front of a mirror.
3. Check the scrotum for swelling.
4. Examine each testicle separately.
5. With your index and middle fingers under the testicle, thumbs placed on top, roll the right testicle between the thumbs and fingers. Feel for any hard lumps or nodules.
6. Cancerous lumps usually are found on the sides of the testicle, but can also show up on the front.
7. Find the epididymis, the soft, cordlike structure behind the testicle that collects and carries sperm.
8. Repeat with the left testicle.

See your doctor right away if you feel pain or swelling or find a lump in either testicle.

Sources: The Testicular Cancer Resource Center. How to do a testicular self examination. Accessed May 28, 2008. The American Cancer Society. Do I have testicular cancer? Accessed May 28, 2008.

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