How to do a testicular self-check
To do a testicular self-check, once a month after a warm shower, gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers to learn what is normal for you, and feel for a hard lump, swelling, a change in size or a heavy ache. The soft tube at the back is normal. See a doctor promptly about any change, and go to the emergency room for sudden severe pain.
About 5 minutes to learnSafety critical: tightly scoped, know when to call a professional
Mark it once you can do it without this page open.
How to do it
- Pick a regular time, such as the first shower of each month, when the skin is warm and relaxed.
- Stand, and check one side at a time.
- Roll the testicle gently between your thumb and fingers, feeling the whole surface.
- Find the soft, coiled tube at the back and top, which is a normal structure, so you do not mistake it for a lump.
- Feel for any hard lump, swelling, change in size or firmness, or a feeling of heaviness.
- Compare with last month, remembering it is normal for one side to be slightly larger or hang lower.
- Book a doctor's appointment promptly for any change, even a painless one.
Stop and call a professional if
- You find any lump, swelling or change: see a doctor within a couple of weeks; most changes are not cancer, but all need checking.
- Sudden, severe pain in a testicle, with or without nausea: go to an emergency department now, as a twisted testicle needs surgery within hours.
- This page explains what to watch for; it cannot tell you what is wrong. Only a clinician who examines you can.
Common mistakes
- Waiting to see if a painless lump goes away.
- Mistaking the normal tube at the back for a lump and panicking, or the reverse.
- Being too embarrassed to mention it to a doctor, who sees this every day.
- Checking so hard it hurts.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to do a testicular self-check
What to say
To do a testicular self-check, once a month after a warm shower, gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers to learn what is normal for you, and feel for a hard lump, swelling, a change in size or a heavy ache. The soft tube at the back is normal. See a doctor promptly about any change, and go to the emergency room for sudden severe pain.
What to show, in order
- Pick a regular time, such as the first shower of each month, when the skin is warm and relaxed.
- Stand, and check one side at a time.
- Roll the testicle gently between your thumb and fingers, feeling the whole surface.
- Find the soft, coiled tube at the back and top, which is a normal structure, so you do not mistake it for a lump.
- Feel for any hard lump, swelling, change in size or firmness, or a feeling of heaviness.
- Compare with last month, remembering it is normal for one side to be slightly larger or hang lower.
- Book a doctor's appointment promptly for any change, even a painless one.
When to stop and call a professional
- You find any lump, swelling or change: see a doctor within a couple of weeks; most changes are not cancer, but all need checking.
- Sudden, severe pain in a testicle, with or without nausea: go to an emergency department now, as a twisted testicle needs surgery within hours.
- This page explains what to watch for; it cannot tell you what is wrong. Only a clinician who examines you can.
The check question
Ask: When is a good time to check?
Related skills
- What health checkups men need by age
- How to prepare for a doctor's appointment
- Sunscreen and when to get a mole checked
- Every skill in Health and Body Upkeep
Sources
- National cancer information service guidance on testicular cancer, current edition. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .