I’ve only ever been told of the importance of conducting a self exam a few times. The initial time was during my very first pre-employment physical. The male NP discussed it during the history portion of the physical. Then, when he surprised me with a hernia check at the end of the exam, he ended it with a quick “and this is how you gently check each testicle.” After he finished, he removed his glove and drew a testicle, the spermatic cords, and the epididymis while explaining how it is important to check the to top of the testicle. After changing back into my clothes and taking the gown off, I remember thinking about how embarrassing it was that the nurse was going to go back into the exam room to pull down the exam table paper and she would see that drawn on there. It made it worse knowing that I had to work and interact with both the NP and that Nurse nearly every day!
Then, during my second adult physical at a new PCP, my new doctor stated that he doesn’t typically screen for testicular cancer but said, “check yourself monthly and come in if you ever notice anything different.” The second year, he asked, “is everything okay with your testicles as you check monthly?” Of course, when I said, “I think so…” he just smirked and didn’t suggest that he examine them.
The only time that I’ve had to demonstrate a self-exam was during my very first, and by far the most thorough exam that I have had with my first ever “play” doc. At the end of the exam, he asked me to stand in front of him again, and he began to ask me if I perform testicular self exams. When I said that I did, he reached forward and lowered my underwear. He then asked me to demonstrate. Standing there completely naked, as he sat on the chair in his scrubs with his hands folded, he watched and then reached forward and said, “that’s right. It’s important to slowly palpate each testicle….” and proceeded to give another full testicular exam, feeling all the way up my spermatic cords, etc. I remember feeling so vulnerable, embarrassed, and almost like a child being taught this, but I was thrilled beyond belief! That exam is by far the most memorable exam of my life, both real and play.