47% of men admit to not knowing how to check their chap (and its surrounding vicinity!) for potential sexual health problems (according to a survey from Men’s Health). When I read this statistic, I knew immediately that my next blog needed to address this knowledge void.
Here are the steps to perform an essential sexual health exam on your bits!
Start young
It’s never too late to start getting into the habit of self-examining, as it will only benefit you long-term. I recommend starting as early as you can, during your teenage years, so you can get used to what feels normal. It will then be easier to spot when an abnormal change occurs.
Even if you’re not sexually active, you should still check your chap for potential signs of testicular cancer, predominantly affecting the 20-40-year-old age group.
Jump in the shower or bath
Doing your self-check in the bath or shower (with warm water) relaxes your scrotum, making the skin more pliable. This will make it easier to feel any lumps and bumps that shouldn’t be there.
Take it in turns with your testicles
Examine each testicle one at a time, moving your penis out of the way as you go about your business. The firmness of a healthy testicle can be likened to the skin webbing between your thumb and index finger – don’t forget to go the full 360o feeling all the way around each of your crown jewels!
Pea-sized lumps are common on the backside of testicles and are often benign cysts. Should you find one, clock it, and get in touch with your GP if it appears to be metamorphosing.
Don’t forget your scrotal sac
The upper section of your testicles may have some varicose veins, which affect 15% of all adult males and 20% of adolescent males. Usually, these should not be cause for concern. But, if you notice they have recently changed (hardened or grown in size and shape), it’s time to make an appointment with your GP. Some experts believe that hard and misshapen varicose veins can increase the scrotum’s temperature, decreasing sperm production.
Look out for sensitivity or changes to your chap’s shape
Your penis should be straight, so if you’ve noticed its shape has gone a bit rogue, this is cause for concern rather than something to banter with the lads over.
A bend in your penis could indicate Peyronie’s disease, which is a bit of a misleading term (as it’s not technically a disease). It’s the phrase used for an injury that causes your penis to develop a bend. Peyronie’s disease can lead to emotional problems that cause depression; according to a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, half of the men living with the ‘disease’ need to be assessed for depression.
A change in how your sex organs look is no laughing matter, as it could affect your confidence between the sheets and your relationship with your partner or partners. For severe disease manifestations, injectable medications, grafting, and implants are available.
Normalising Chat About Your Chap
Historically, talking about penis health is something men have struggled with in the past – but ‘times are a-changing, as Bob Dylan would say.
The shackles of masculinity have been coming off more and more gradually every year, with a growing number of men speaking out in documentaries and articles about sexual health, how to practice safe sex, and how to self-examine so that any problems are spotted early.
I say ‘hoo-rah’ to this movement, which will undoubtedly create a generation of men who understand the value of speaking candidly about penis and testicular health.