A monthly ball-check exam could help men to spot dangerous changes related to testicular cancer. However, those self-check moments only work when men know what they\’re looking for. While a self-exam is not a substitute for a regular penis health exam with a qualified urologist, this quiz will help men to test their knowledge and learn a little more about what they should be watching for as they probe things downstairs.

The Questions

1. True or false: Testicles change in size all the time, so an increase in size shouldn\’t cause a man any concern at all.

2. True or false: A healthy testicle has no lumps or bumps at all.

3. Testicles should feel: soft, waterlogged, hard.

4. Testicles should hang: evenly, unevenly.

5. True or false: A monthly exam should be somewhat painful.

6. What\’s one thing men should watch for as they manipulate the testicles?

7. Is there anything men can do to make these sorts of exams just a little more pleasant?

The Answers

1. False. The size of the testicles should be somewhat fixed, meaning that they shouldn\’t feel bigger one month and smaller the next. Big changes in size should always prompt a call to the doctor.

2. False. A tiny tube carries sperm out of the testicles and into the penis. This cord is easy for a man to feel between his fingers, and sometimes, it feels a lot like a pea or a marble beneath the skin. If this same bump is felt on both testicles, it is probably not caused by cancerous changes. A doctor can tell a man for sure.

3. Soft. Testicles do a significant amount of work, but they should feel soft and spongy when they\’re rolled between the fingers. However, if that softness begins to feel more like bogginess, as though the tissues are filled with fluid, that might be an issue to discuss with a doctor. Similarly, if the tissues feel very firm or hard, that might also be something a doctor should be aware of.

4. Unevenly. It\’s not unusual for one ball to drop a little closer to the Earth while the other stays a little closer to the body. As long as the relationship between the two parts of the sack doesn\’t change over time, it\’s not at all unusual for these balls to take up different positions.

5. False. An exam should be thorough, and men they carry it out, they should follow these steps:

– Roll the tissues between their fingers

– Examine the tissues visually

– Poke and prod for lumps and bumps

– Squeeze the tissues and look for discharge

That\’s a lot of manipulation, but even so, nothing a man does at this time should cause him an intense amount of pain. If he does experience discomfort, a call to the doctor is a reasonable next step.

6. Discharge from the penis. Sometimes, pus or discharge emerges from the tip of the penis at the end of a man\’s thorough testicular exam. This is a symptom a doctor might be curious to know about, so it\’s best to watch for this problem as the exam moves forward. Keep in mind that a discharge can be related to other penile conditions, such as balanitis, thrush, or a partner-transmitted infection. A discharge from the penis is grounds for a trip to the doctor in any case.

7. Yes. A quality penis health cr