Testicular exams for older men?

Do doctors usually skip testicular exams after you get past a certain age? Last time I had a medical it was obvious we'd reached the end and I wasn't going to get one unless I asked. So I asked and got what I wanted, my knob thickening just a little. If it isn't routine to perform the exam, I do feel rather awkward asking as I imagine the doctor thinking 'he must be one of those medfet types'.

I got a testicular exam by expressing concern about varicose veins in the scrotum. I stood and dropped trow. He sat on a stool in front of me and with a quick feel gave me the reassurance I was seeking.

My Dr stopped at 40 when he started DRE.

I was surprised when my urologist did do one. This was part of my exam after coming down with prostate cancer. I was 70.

There was quite a bit of talk in the gym locker room when one of the men felt a lump on a self exam and it was cancer. He was 69.

So even if the Dr stops still do the self exam. Cancer is rare in men over 35 but not unheard of.

The wife was a nurse for 35 years so when we play she checks me and I do a breast exam on her. Lots of fun.

varicose veins in the scrotum.

What symptoms did you have that made you think you might have a varicocele?

My docs still check my testicles and I'm past 50. Testicular cancer may be rare as we get older but it can still happen. And hernias can happen at any age I think. I have a varicocele that was diagnosed years ago. Doesn't usually bother me but it can be sore at times. The urologist who diagnosed it told me to wear snug underpants and not boxers. On the few occasions where I ignored his advice, I felt the difference by the end of the day and it wasn't pleasant.

What symptoms did you have that made you think you might have a varicocele? Lumpy uneven texture.

It should NEVER be skipped. No exceptions!

I wasn't aware that I had a varicocele until that urologist diagnosed it. I had never heard of one so when he said that I had one, it didn't mean anything to me. He asked me if it bothered me and I really didn't know what he meant. He said, keep wearing your briefs and a jock for sports or running and I did. There wasn't anything visible like lumpy uneven texture that I noticed. I know now that varicoceles can be seen in the scrotum but I never noticed anything bulging. It was kind of weird then for other doctors to tell me during physical exams, "You know that you have a varicocele, right?" And I would act like I knew that forever. A couple of docs told me that if the varicocele bothered me that I should wear a tight jock as the compression and extra support would relieve the pain. I had to do that a few times but wearing briefs instead of boxers usually work okay.

My PCP says I am past the age to worry about testicular cancer, but he still performs a thorough genital exam every year. It’s the part of the annual exam I hate the most. It is still embarrassing to me for some reason and I’m certainly not prudish. I’m fine being nude in the locker room and at clothing optional resorts but genital exams, are embarrassing and stressful.

According to the American Cancer Society: "About half of testicular cancers occur in men between the ages of 20 and 34. But this cancer can affect males of any age, including infants and elderly men." Another article said 7% of the testicular cancer patients were over 55. So it is reasonable, and easy, to check at any age. For years my docs have asked if I self check. I consciously check once or twice a month in the shower, have done so for many years.

I specifically check my husbands testicles at least twice a week.

My doctor checks every time. She doesn't ask about self-check, but I do try to do that, umm... rarely I guess, every couple of months.

I had temporary blood in my urine, after a particularly grueling exercise routine about 8 years ago. That worried me, but even after I discovered what caused it, I still began to check myself in the shower. Now that my wife has been diagnosed with early Parkinson's, she showers with me so I can wash her hair and take care of her personaly. She watches as I check myself.

Always am if I do self exams and since I do not, he always does a very extensive examination.

I changed doctors when I turned 45, and haven't had one since. But there are lots of things that don't happen anymore. Mostly, doctor visits are centered around test results now.

Haven’t had one by a doctor for at least the past 15-20 years. In fact, I don’t recall it ever being done although I’m sure it was by some docs many years ago. Last hernia check was before I retired 9 years ago. I was asked a few years back if I self-checked. I do, but not consciously when I shower. I think I’d notice if a lump of some sort appeared.

I think my wife would notice as well.

A doctor has not checked my testicles since I was in my 40’s. I perform regular self checks though. You should make it a point to self check, especially after a doctor checks them. That way you know what ‘healthy’ feels like. Then, if they ever feel different, see a doctor.

Does anyone know if urologists still check them on a new patient? I’ll be seeing one this year.

Does anyone know if urologists still check them on a new patient? I’ll be seeing one this year.

Didn’t for me a few years ago when I saw a new urologist for the first time. YMMV.

Thanks @Rigel. I wouldn’t be surprised though if they did.

Not lately at the PCP, but usually the urologist will check especially if seen for the first time.

I had my annual physical recently and towards the end she tells me "I don't do DRE or Testicular exams anymore". She goes on to tell me though that testicular cancer is something to be aware of and or concerned about for my age (which I thought at 60 I was sort of past that) and that I should be examining myself. She starts to explain, in great detail, the anatomy with terminology that I can't keep up with............I said "why don't you just do it, I'm OK with that", so she did and said "now this is just an abbreviated exam".

I don't know how I could do a better job than her, aside from maybe feeling something sore of which I'd go see her in the first place. This Dr is some one I've seen for about 10 years and when I first start seeing her, did both of these exams. The things she says makes me think it must be the AMA that is dictating how and what is to be examined at a physical .............and I can't help but wonder how malpractice insurance ties to this also. The appointments are not rushed...............an hour is normal (not that a person can do everything in an hour).

My sub has not had a testicular exam in the 5 plus years of his health journey. His PCP has not suggested it nor did it come up with the doctors in training he saw in his first year. His other doctors, cardiologist and nephrologist, are not interested in that area.

Testicular cancer is a young man’s disease. I haven’t had my testicles examined since I turned 60, and only then because I felt a lump that turned out to be only a cyst. Self-exams are easy.

I am in my early sixties and, like many, have a varicocele which causes no problems. However, I do wear boxer briefs on a daily basis and a jock strap when working out for extra support.

I have a yearly physical exam ... sometimes two 😉 ... and all of my doctors have performed the testicle exam. I will admit, that I always mention the varicocele during the pre-exam discussion especially if I am seeing a new doctor. I also intentionally seek out an older doctor that usually leaves no stone unturned!

I'm in my early forties and I'm still getting a testicular and rectal exams during my yearly physical exam.

My nurse practitioner does not do them but my urologist does 😊😊

My long time PCP retired a year ago, and I had my first physical with my new PCP last August. To my surprise, she did both a genital exam and a rectal exam (despite my prostatectomy). I had told her that I no longer go to the urologist and instead rely on my PCP for whatever urologic screening I would need. I'm thinking that's why she did the genital and rectal exams. She palpated my testicles, checked my inguinal canals, and did the DRE, but did not do a fecal occult blood test. I'm in my late 60s.

My primary care doctor has never seen me nude. I go for yearly physicals too. If I have a problem she sends me to Urologist and they look everything over real good.

My urologist stopped doing a genital exam several years ago. I'm 70 now and so it came as no surprise since testicular cancer is generally considered a young man's disease.

My last actual genital exam was 5 years ago by my PCP, and I think he only did a testicle exam because I was complaining of low T symptoms, and sure enough, I had some age-related testicular atrophy. I still get rectals from my urologist, every 6 months, to check my prostate. Difficult to get a hands-on exam from anyone these days, which is a shame.