The “family jewels” are the biological drive for your offspring, as well as the sperm bank. Most men assume that they’re familiar with their playful parts, such as the back of their hand. Unfortunately, our nuts tend to feel neglected and unloved.
Since your balls don’t produce the same sensation as your penis, we tend to take them as an insignificant part of our bodies. Occasionally, they’ll get a little attention when they’re in an uncomfortable area of our boxers.
Despite the various sexual concerns that pubescent boys might have, it’s still important for them to examine their bodies for their own health. Genital diseases can develop at a later age, so it’s important to detect them early enough to prevent them from affecting your reproductive health.
Why Men Should Check Their Testicles Regularly
One word: Cancer.
Aside from cancer, other sexually-related conditions can also threaten your reproductive system and life. If you’re a sensible individual who values having a biological legacy, then it’s important that you regularly check your balls.
Some of the cosmetic defects that can affect the appearance of your testicles include inflammation, warts, and rashes. I bet that preventing your genitals from looking like a horror movie character in front of a potential partner is enough motivation to check them regularly.
1. Fertility and Reproduction
Testes play a vital role in reproduction and fertility. They’re responsible for fertilizing eggs during the process of conception. Having healthy balls can boost one’s chances of fathering offspring. Unfortunately, if testicular health issues arise, it can prevent pregnancy from happening.
2. Hormone Regulation
Testes play a vital role in regulating the hormone levels of the male body. They play a variety of functions, such as bone density, muscle growth, and sexual characteristics. A drop in their health can affect the production of testosterone, leading to various issues like fatigue, mood swings, and libido.
3. Early Detection of Health Issues
Testicular health issues can be detected early enough to treat them successfully and prevent them from affecting one’s reproductive health. Having self-administered exams can help you identify lumps, changes in size or any other abnormalities that are potentially cancerous.
4. Sexual Health and Performance
Having healthy testicles can help contribute to an individual’s overall performance and sexual health. They play an important role in maintaining one’s sexual desire and ability to achieve an active and satisfying sex life.
5. Confidence and Well-Being
Having a positive outlook on one’s body and its functions is very important for overall well-being. Satisfying your testicles can boost one’s self-worth and confidence. However, if they’re not functioning properly, testicular issues may lead to stress and anxiety.
How to Check Your Balls
Ideally, you should start checking your crown jewels at around 17 or 18 years old. This is because the body has already matured enough that it can handle the maintenance.
As you grow older, you must undergo regular examinations to monitor any changes that may appear over time, such as lumps and bumps.
1. Check Your Balls During the Night After a Hot Shower
The scrotum is in a tender state during this period, allowing you to feel its interior parts. Hold your crown jewels gently and show them as if you were holding a baby.
2. Examine One Testicle at a Time
Try to feel the symmetry of each one of them. Doing so will allow you to identify unusual features of the testicles without having to deal with both at the same time. The normal sack should contain all the necessary features to detect irregularities.
- Your scrotum: The skin around your testicles is usually wrinkled and saggy when relaxed and puffy and firm when exposed to cold temperatures. Blotting, roughness, and discoloration should be noted if the skin feels abnormal.
- Your testicles: The texture and appearance of your testicles should be similar to that of de-shelled quail eggs. They should also be smooth and firm. If one of your testicles measures about as big as a tennis ball, you should consult a doctor. But, be assured that the other one is about as big as a quail egg.
- The epididymis: The structure that’s located on the back of your balls is a spongy and soft rope-like material that’s designed to carry sperm to the penis when one is ejaculating.
3. Take note of any lumps, bumps, and swelling that occur
Whenever swelling or bumps appear on your testes, they often feel like there’s a pea or a grain of rice inside. They should then be noted down and monitored for any additional changes, such as an increase in size or a feeling of discomfort. It’s important to seek medical attention immediately if the lump is too obvious.
4. Also check your scrotum
Although the scrotum may appear to be a bit wrinkled and bumpy, it should still look like the skin on your body. To identify unusual features, such as patches of red or thickened skin, discoloration, and rashes, go through it and examine it.
5. Note any weird sensations
Check if you feel constant and painful itchiness, pain, or heaviness. Your balls are sensitive to temperature and touch. Slapping on the groin or dinging it will send you rolling backward and keeling over.
It’s also known that long, cold swims can shrink your balls. Pain in the lower abdomen or in the testicular region should be noted.
6. Note unusual sensations during different types of activities
Testicular pain should also be noted when you’re performing various activities, such as sleeping, urinating, and walking. Doing so can help you identify potential conditions and refer you to a specialist if one is required.
7. If you’re unsure, you could always see a specialist
You should see a doctor yearly for an evaluation and a better assessment of your condition. The specialist may be able to tell you if the changes you’re experiencing are a cause for concern or a superficial change that’s not significant.
You may also ask a medical expert for advice on how to take care of your testes. They would typically advise yearly examinations for men with the prostate and testicles, especially as they get older.
Tips for Keeping Balls Healthy
Testicles are important for a person’s overall health, and yet they’re often ignored or overlooked. For individuals who are interested in their fertility and long-term health, it is crucial to take care of them. Here are a few simple yet effective habits to maintain optimal testes health.
1. Proper Hygiene and Cleaning
Testes require regular hygiene to prevent bacteria, sweat, dead skin cells, and other harmful substances from accumulating.
To keep your testes looking their best, you should use warm water and soap. However, avoid using products that can cause dryness or irritation, such as body washes and shower gel. When you’re in the shower, make sure to thoroughly scrub your testes with warm water to remove dirt and sweat.
When engaging in sexual activity, one must practice good hygiene. After having sex or masturbating, you must wash your balls and testes with warm water and soap to eliminate harmful bacteria.
2. Choose the Right Underwear
If you’re worried about your testes’ health, you should choose underwear that doesn’t restrict your movement and provides adequate support. This type of garment can help minimize the risk of injury and prevent you from straining your testes.
3. Diet and Hydration
Getting the proper hydration and diet can help maintain the well-being of your testes. One of the most important factors that you can consider when it comes to maintaining this is ensuring that your diet is rich in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Having enough water can also help keep your body hydrated and prevent overheating.
4. Exercise Regularly
Maintaining a healthy body that includes the well-being and integrity of your testes requires consistent exercise. Doing so can help improve blood circulation, relieve stress, and help regulate hormones. For most weekdays, engage in at least 30 minutes of moderately-intense exercise.
5. Avoid Excessive Heat
Your testes’ health can be negatively affected if you’re exposing them to excessive heat. To prevent this, avoid taking long baths or going to hot tubs. Also, make sure to keep your testicles cool to prevent sperm production from being affected by elevated temperatures.
6. Practice Safe Sex
Not only must you practice safe sex, but it’s also important to protect your testes from any potential harm. One of the most important factors that you can consider when it comes to maintaining the well-being of your testes is regularly using condoms.
7. Regular Self-Examination
One of the most crucial practices you can make to maintain the health of your reproductive system is regularly examining your testicles. Doing so can detect any abnormalities that may be present. Although they generally feel smooth and painless, you should seek medical assistance if you notice any swelling, lumps, or changes in their size or texture.
8. Stay away from smoking and drinking
The harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco smoke on your testes can be significant. Both substances have damaging effects on sperm cells, and excessive drinking and smoking can lead to infertility. Because of this, it’s crucial to avoid these activities altogether.
The appearance of one’s testicles is one of the most significant signs of one’s true identity. Hence, it is the responsibility of a man to keep track of any alterations that may occur to his family jewels.
Although some people may hide the signs of aging or irregularity in their bodies, it’s still prudent to seek medical assistance for a quick assessment of your balls. Saving your balls will save the world.