How to Perform a Penis Health Exam

Every man wants to live a long, healthy life with no surprise medical issues. In order to ensure the best chances of that happening, it pays to pay close attention to every part of the body, including the penis and surrounding area. Though a man gets a close look at the equipment during usual daily penis care, once a month he should take the time to really look things over and search for any problems, such as bumps, lesions, redness or painful areas.

Understanding how to do a penis exam is vitally important. Here’s what a man needs to know in order to do the penis exam correctly and help ensure the best of penis health from one month to the next.

Steps to the best penis exam
 
Once a month, a man should take the time to explore his penis and surrounding area. This is best done immediately after a hot shower, when penis skin is relaxed from the warmth of the water.

1. Look at the skin. Using a mirror to help, look at the skin of the penis and surrounding area. The idea is to look for anything out of the ordinary, including discolorations, strange spots, scrapes or bruises, lesions, moles or blemishes. Anything unusual should be noted, as a man can look at it again next month to see if there have been any changes. Anything that appears to be severe should be checked by a doctor.

2. Check out the penis. The idea here is to feel for any lumps or abnormalities in the penis itself. Using one hand to hold the base of the penis, slide the other hand upward, feeling for any strange changes on the way. Make note of any bumps, ridges or painful areas. If an erection happens during this exam, that’s just fine - that provides a man with the opportunity to feel for bumps and the like, things he might miss during the excitement of masturbation. It’s easier to feel for strange changes when a man is in an ‘all business’ kind of mindset!

3. Feel around the groin. Using two fingers, press all around the groin area. There might be some lumps here and there, from lymph nodes and the like; these are normal. The idea is to do this on a monthly basis, so a man becomes very familiar with what the area feels like. That way, he can tell if any of those bumps change over time. During this part of the penis exam, make note of any painful areas.

4. Examine the testicles. Look at the testicles with the mirror. They should look as they always do; one might be larger than the other or might ‘hang’ a bit more, but over time a man will come to know what is normal for him. Using slight pressure, take the testicle between thumb and forefingers and run the hand along it, feeling for any bumps or lumps. At the back of the testicle will be a small tube that will feel soft and might be tender to the touch; this is perfectly normal.

5. Take notes. Though it might seem strange, this can come in handy in a few months, when a man sees or feels something odd and wonders if it was there in the past. By taking a few notes right now after the penis exam, a man can get to know what is normal for his body.

Make use of penis health crème
 
After the penis exam, a man should apply a top-notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Look for a crème that contains vitamins A, C, D, B5 and E, as well as amino acids that can enhance penis health. Not only does a good penis health crème work wonders for the skin, the regular application gives a man one more opportunity to feel for any problems, thus leading to even better penis health.

Healthy Penis Prep: Getting Ready for the Doctor

It's crucial that a man makes sure he has a healthy penis and part of that process is a routine doctor examination. Adult men usually need to go for a physical exam every year and for most men this exam will include a look at the penis and testicles. Is there anything a man needs to do to prepare for this, other than practice the usual proper penis care on a daily basis?

What's involved
 
When a man gets a physical, the doctor wants to assess his overall health. This means that s/he wants to do a relatively quick overview to get a picture of the total health of the male in question. If a doctor sees signs from this quick overview of a potential issue, s/he may make a portion of the exam more thorough or s/he may arrange for a separate appointment (sometimes with a specialist) to better assess whether an issue is present.

The genital examination of the patient will therefore occupy only a small portion of the total exam. Usually there are four parts to this segment of the check-up:

- Testicle check. The doctor needs to make sure that there are no issues with the testicles, such as a cyst or other lump or growth. Many times such growths are benign; other times they may be a symptom of another problem, such a lymph node blockage or even cancer. In order to do this, s/he needs to hold the testicles in his/her hands and gently feel for lumps.

- Penis analysis. Similarly, the doctor is going to need to hold the penis and move it around so that he may check for signs of STIs, as well as more benign issues such as dry skin or balanitis.

- Hernia inspection. As part of the doctor's determination of a possible hernia, s/he will conduct the famous "Turn your head and cough" routine. While the doctor holds the testicles, the patient coughs. This enables the doctor to determine if the movement caused by the coughing is correct or could indicate hernia issues.

- Prostate prod. Often the least favorite part of the exam, the doctor must stick a finger into the patient's anus in order to examine the prostate. This enables him/her to see if the size of the prostate is normal and if there are any suspicious lumps or signs that may need attention.

What to do
 
Most men who practice regular penis care don't need to do anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the exam. However, some men do prefer to take a few extra steps. These might include:
- Washing the genitals shortly before leaving for the appointment. Penis odor can be embarrassing to the patient and off-putting to the doctor.

- Refraining from sex (partner or solo) on the day of the exam. Again, the aroma can be an issue. Some men like to masturbate immediately before an exam, as they are afraid of getting an erection during the exam. This concern needs to be weighed with the possibility that they will be exhibiting evidence of semen on their penis when it is presented to the doctor.

- Wearing loose-fitting pants and underwear. Tight jeans may cause crotch sweat.

On a longer-term basis, guys can help ensure a healthy penis to present to their doctor by regularly using a quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil). Daily use of a crème that contains both a natural hydrator (like vitamin E) and a high-end emollient (Shea butter is excellent) is going to keep the penis well-moisturized and help prevent rashes and dry, flaky skin. But a man shouldn't stop there; he needs to make sure the crème also contains vitamin A. Why? Because vitamin A has anti-bacterial properties that are excellent at attacking the bacteria that can cause persistent penis odors. Both the patient and the doctor will be more at ease during the exam if the patient's penis is not emitting an embarrassing odor.

Penis Health Quiz - What Really Happens During a Medical Exam?

Almost every man alive will need to go to the doctor for an intimate problem on occasion, and some unlucky guys will have an appointment like this on a regular basis. People who have been through an exam before will know all about what's expected and what might happen, but those who have never had any kind of exam may be anxious about what might take place.

This quiz can help. Some common questions about men’s health exams are listed at the beginning of this article, with answers at the end. The information provided here might convince men that they should get the penis care assistance they need in order to stay healthy.

The Questions
1) True or false: Doctors allow their patients to keep their clothes on during an exam.
2) True or false: The doctor doesn't do any talking during the exam.
3) Examinations are: totally comfortable, a little uncomfortable, painful.
4) Is a visit to a laboratory a mandatory part of this exam?
5) True or false: Getting an erection during an examination is unusual.
6) A man should get an exam like this: yearly, every 6 months, or once in a lifetime.

The Answers
1) False. Doctors need to perform a visual examination, so they can look for cuts, sores, bruises and other sources of discomfort. This means doctors need to be able to see the entire body during the exam. Unfortunately, this means ditching the duds and putting on that baggy robe.

2) False. In fact, doctors need to ask a number of important questions before touching the patient. They might ask about the person's:

- Overall physical health
- Sexual history
- Lifestyle
- Family medical history
- Reasons for coming to the appointment
The answers to these questions will determine what happens during the appointment, so it's a vital part of the exam.

3) A little uncomfortable. Doctors tend to be thorough in these examinations, and that means they tend to poke and prod in areas that might be a little tender. For example, most men find a prostate exam to be slightly uncomfortable. But, physicians are also careful to ensure that they don't cause overwhelming pain. They want their patients to come back, after all; so the discomfort tends to be brief.

4) Typically, men who go through a penis exam need to stop at the laboratory and provide blood and urine samples. These fluids are tested for all sorts of health conditions, including sexually transmitted diseases and metabolic disorders. In addition, men who have some sort of discharge from the penis might also be required to submit a sample of that material.

5) False. There's a lot of manhandling that happens during a physical exam, and sometimes, that touch leads to a rush of blood and a telltale stiffening. It can be awfully embarrassing for men to deal with a problem like this, but doctors have training and expertise, and they're often quite calm in the face of an erection. Usually, there's no need for an apology.

6) Yearly, unless something about the man's health changes. A yearly exam allows the doctor to assess how well everything is working and how healthy the man is overall. But if some new symptoms appear, a man should always make an appointment to get those checked out.

But an exam isn't the only thing a man can do in order to keep his manhood healthy. Men who really want to keep things in shape can do just that by adding in a penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil). These products contain the right mix of vitamins, minerals and emollients that can support the health of penile tissue, nerves and blood vessels. With a quality product, applied daily, a man might have less to talk about during his exam, and that might make everyone just a little happier.