Testicular Cancer Quiz - What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

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 crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) can help to keep nearby penile tissues both soft and supple, so they won't cause a spark of pain when they're brushed. This means that these tissues won't distract a man from paying attention to his testicles as he performs his exam, and the responsive penis tissues might actually appreciate the added attention they'll get as he performs his work. This could be an added benefit that makes performing an exam all the more worthwhile, and a lot more fun.

Understanding the Penis - What is Ejaculate Made Of, and Why Does it Matter?

When people think of the gooey stuff that comes at the end of a roll in the sheets, they often think of the wrigglers that can get a girl pregnant. While it's true that at least some portion of ejaculate is made of sperm, this specialized liquid also contains a variety of other elements that a man may not even know about, and examining the quality and condition of that stuff on a regular basis could give a man important clues about the state of his penis health.

Other Exciting Ingredients
Experts suggest that only a small portion of ejaculate is made up of sperm. In fact, only about 1 percent of the total volume of the liquid contains those seeds. The rest contains:

• Fructose
• Vitamins
• Citric acid
• Enzymes
• Fat cells

Some of these ingredients are designed to nourish hungry sperm cells. They have a long journey to complete, with few opportunities to grab a snack, so this supplementation is vital. Without it, some cells might die before they reach their destination.

Other ingredients are designed to smooth the path sperm cells take as they exit the body. These ingredients smooth roughened, course tissues and allow cells to glide right by without losing steam of any sort.

Production Pathways
While most men know that sperm begin their lives deep within the tissues that make up the testicles, few know that some portions of ejaculate are made by a very different part of the male anatomy. For example, the prostate gland, located deep inside of a man's body, produces some of the elements that come shooting out during a moment of bliss.

It's not really clear which part of the ejaculate comes from which part of the body, as all of the mixing takes place long before the bulk of the fluid is expelled from the penis. But the way the stuff looks, feels or even tastes could be a good indication of the overall health of a man's most private parts.

Volume and Consistency Concerns
No matter how much a guy might brag, a total load of more than about a teaspoon is unusual. Some men shoot about half that amount. But, men who commonly produced a large amount and then suddenly experience a lower volume might be dealing with a blockage of some sort. A dip in fluid production like this might merit a visit to the doctor.

Similarly, a change in the way the fluid looks could be an indication of some disruption in a man's system. Clumps, lumps and bumps in bits that were once smooth and milky also merit a trip to the doctor's office.

Color and Smell Changes
Since ejaculate takes a trip through sensitive plumbing on its way out of the body, it has the opportunity to pick up random additives, and these extra ingredients can change the way the fluid looks for smells.

Men who have reddish-colored semen, for example, might be experiencing some sort of bleeding either inside their testicles or in the penis. Also, men who have infections may notice that their fluids look yellow or even green, rather than white or clear. Infections might also be signaled by juice that smells unpleasant or unusual. Any of these symptoms should merit a trip to the doctor.

Prevention Tips
Keeping the penis healthy might be just one way to ensure that a man's juice is pleasant and profitable. Wrapping up the sausage in a jock strap before doing sports is one way to ensure that injuries don't take place, and wearing barrier protection with new partners can help to block nasty infections before they begin.

A penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) may also be an excellent investment. These products help to soften and soothe penile skin, so germs have fewer places to stick and grow, and the vitamin punch of each application can keep nerve cells and blood vessels healthy. Regular use can keep a man lollipop worthy for years to come.

Too Much Masturbation - Moving from Curious to Compulsive

A man who walks up to his peers and questions how often they masturbate might well be rewarded with a smack in the teeth. Personal habits concerning a man and his penis just aren't part of polite conversation, and men are encouraged to keep their business to themselves.

Even so, most men reasonably wonder if their preferences can be considered "normal," especially when it comes to masturbation. Specifically, they may wonder if their habits could cause damage that could impair their penis health. There are no easy answers to this question, but understanding a bit more about how experts define a healthy sex life could help a man to make good choices about his alone time.

By the Numbers
Experts suggest that there is no magic number when it comes to masturbation. In fact, the number of times that people engage in this activity can vary dramatically depending on:

• Age
• Underlying health conditions
• Relationship status
• Hormone levels
• Free time
• Personal preference
• Habit

The figure can also vary from month to month for a man, depending on the other issues he might be facing in his life. One month might be a wang-fest, but another might be completely chaste. It's just part and parcel of a variable life.

Digging Deeper
If a specific number can't be found, men might need to do more than count in order to determine if masturbation is a problem for them. Often, this involves thinking about how masturbation makes them feel, and how it fits into their everyday lives.

Men who can get off without a care in the world, abandoning the practice when they need to go to work or see a friend, might not have an issue. Those who are preoccupied with the practice and find it hard to even go to work, on the other hand, might be dealing with the dinger just a bit too often. Similarly, if a man finds that he prefers his hand over the body of his partner, he might be engaging in masturbation a little too frequently, priming his brain to respond only to the touches he's able to bring.

Measuring the Damage
 
It's easy to suggest that men should spank as often as they'd like, as long as they're not losing their jobs, getting arrested or otherwise getting into trouble for their actions. This is at least partially true, as men are ultimately responsible for their own happiness, and as free agents, they can do anything they'd like.

But masturbating compulsively can bring about some nasty side effects that men may not want. For example, the harsh pulling and squeezing that takes place during a typical session can lead to:

1. Chafing;
2. Bruising;
3. Erectile issues;
4. Painful sex.

Backing off the activity is always a good idea, when pain has begun to enter the picture. It might also be wise for men to amend their ways if they find that they're placing masturbation at the center of their lives, to the detriment of all of their other goals and responsibilities. This down time can also allow men to work on healing their equipment, so they'll be ready to get back into the game.

A penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) could be vital in this effort. A quality product can soften and smooth skin damaged by harsh techniques, and the vitamins in these products can help traumatized skin to knit together and heal. A daily application could help skin to glow with health, responding to each touch with no signal of pain. In no time at all, a man can be ready to reboot his self-love life, and handle his tool responsibly.