A load of balls

Balls, testes, bollox, gonads – you’ve got to love them! Great to play with and tasty too, but they’re not there just for the sheer beauty of it all. Testicles are not only responsible for producing over 300 million sperm a day; they also pump us full of testosterone – the hormone that makes us the big, butch men we are (yeah right).

Taking care of your balls is extremely important, as they are susceptible to lots of diseases and conditions including testicular cancer, which is the most common form of cancer to affect young men in the United Kingdom. It is particularly prevalent in men aged between 19-44 and around 1500 men find out they’ve got it every year. But don’t start panicking because, if detected early enough, it is almost always curable.

Nobody knows why testicular cancer occurs, but as with other cancers, it may well be hereditary. Also, men whose balls haven’t descended (dropped) are more likely to contract the disease.

Some research suggests that regular exercise may help prevent testicular cancer from developing (damn them), but the best way to keep your balls in tip-top condition is to regularly check them for any changes.

So get checking! We recommend you do it monthly and choose a time when both you and your balls are relaxed – ideally after a warm bath or shower.

Holding your scrotum in the palms of your hands, use your fingers and thumbs to examine the shape, size, consistency and smoothness of your balls. Don’t press too hard though as it really will hurt and remember, it’s not unusual for one ball to be larger or hang lower than the other, so don’t let this worry you.

If you’re not sure what’s right and what’s wrong or just need some reassurance, then make an appointment with your GP or at your local GUM clinic.

Warning signs

Testicular swelling.

  • A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
  • A pea sized hard lump on the testicle.
  • A dull ache in the abdomen or groin.
  • Sharp pain around the testicle or in the scrotum.
  • A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.

The facts

  • Testicular cancer is the most common cancer to affect young men.
  • There are around 1,500 new cases a year in the UK.
  • It is most common in men aged between 19-44 years of age.
  • If it is detected early enough, testicular cancer is almost always curable.