“Did you know that testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 35? “

Judging by the number of oh-so-unfortunate looking ‘staches I’ve seen around campus this week, it seems that Movember has taken Guelph by storm. The important thing to remember about Movember is that it’s not simply about raising money for prostate cancer. It’s also about starting some discussion and raising some awareness about men’s health issues. The dialogue has been a little shallow when it comes to other aspects of men’s sexual health. Allow me to now attempt to address this: gentlemen, let’s talk testicles.

It’s pretty easy to see that men value their testicles; in fact, we colloquially equate the (figurative) size of one’s testicles to his manhood. Scientifically, this actually makes a bit of sense– testicles are responsible for the production of more than 90 per cent of the testosterone in a man’s body (the adrenal glands produce the remainder). Testosterone is, of course, the hormone associated with any number of “manly” functions: building muscle, growing facial hair, and the normal development of sperm. And yes, stimulation of the testicles can be extremely pleasurable.

Did you know that testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 35? A quick Google search will bring up tons of information on how to perform testicular self-examination (or for instructions, keep reading). Yet we keep hearing about prostate cancer being the big concern for men. I know, somehow it’s not considered particularly manly for college-aged men to express concern about changes in their testicles, but it’s time we started to change this thinking. The consequences of ignoring testicular health are too steep to ignore: in it’s early stages, testicular cancer can be cured in many cases.

All men over the age of 15 should be performing regular testicular self-examinations. This should probably be done after a shower, when the muscles in the scrotum are relaxed. Examine one at a time by rolling the testicle between your fingers and checking for swelling, bumps, lumps, or changes in the size of your testicles. You’ll be able to feel the sperm-carrying tube (the epididymis) at the top and the back of each testicle- this is normal. It’s also normal for one testicle to be larger than the other. If you notice a change in the appearance, it’s also a good idea to see a doctor.

In the spirit of Movember, maybe we should all (regardless of gender) take some time to explore our genitals. Get used to what’s normal, so you can be aware if there are changes (and make sure you talk to a healthcare professional about it). I know, this might seem a little dry (no pun intended) for a sex column, but my goal here is to promote healthy, safe, and consensual sexual fun. And without the “healthy” part, it can quickly interfere with your ability to enjoy it.

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