Men who notice lumps, swelling, or pain in their groin or scrotum may worry they have testicular cancer. Here we describe the symptoms of testicular cancer and some other problems that could cause symptoms in this part of the body. We also include information on how to do a testicular self-exam for men who want to do so.

This is not meant to be a complete guide to testicular symptoms, nor is it meant to give medical advice or replace the expertise and judgment of a health care provider. If you notice any changes in your testicles, you should see a provider so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Testicles are a part of the male reproductive system. In adult males, these 2 organs are each normally a little smaller than a golf ball. They are contained within a sack of skin called the scrotum, which hangs beneath the base of the penis.

Testicles have 2 main functions:

• They make male hormones, like testosterone.
• They make sperm, the male cells needed to fertilize a female’s egg to start a pregnancy.

Sperm cells form inside the testicle and are then stored in the epididymis a small coiled tube behind each testicle, where they mature.

When a man ejaculates, sperm cells travel from the epididymis through the vas deferens to the seminal vesicles, where they mix with fluids made by the vesicles, the prostate gland, and other glands to form semen. This fluid then travels through the urethra and out through the penis.

Testicular cancer facts

• Males of any age can develop testicular cancer, including infants and elderly men.
• About half of all cases of testicular cancer are in men between the ages of 20 and 34.
• Testicular cancer is not common; a man’s lifetime chance of getting it is about 1 in 263. The risk of dying from this cancer is about 1 in 5,000.
• Testicular cancer can be treated and usually cured, especially when it’s found early – when it’s small and hasn’t spread.