By Dr. Dan
Every year or two all men (from puberty onward) should get a physical exam. A few quick checks can catch some nasty infections in their early, treatable stages. The exam isn’t a big deal, and it’s the best way to stay healthy.
The appointment will start with a conversation. The clinician will ask you questions about your health, and you can ask about anything that’s on your mind. During the exam, they’ll check you from head to toe to make sure you’re healthy. This usually involves examining your testicles and penis. Sometimes they also do a rectal exam. These exams may be embarrassing, but they’re very important.
The Visual Exam
None of the exam should be painful. The clinician will look for any sign of cancer by gently touching your testicles. These signs include hard bumps or lumps, or having one testicle significantly larger than the other. For the same reason, you should occasionally check your own testes. This is easiest when you’re relaxed, like during a shower. Don’t worry if your testes are a little different in size; most men’s are.
When the clinician asks you to “turn your head and cough,” they’re looking for a hernia. A hernia is an opening that can form in the muscles of your abdomen where a small amount of your bowel can poke through. (It doesn’t actually poke through the skin — this all happens internally.) Hernias are very uncomfortable, so you would probably know if you had one. For the exam, the clinician places his finger against the top of your scrotum. When you cough, the hernia (if you have one) will press against the the doctor’s finger.
The Rectal Exam
As you get older, you may need a rectal exam more often. Young men don’t have this during a routine check up. The most common reason men need to have this exam is to make certain their prostate is not enlarged. This rarely happens in adolescents, so a rectal exam is not ususally needed. If it is needed because of some other medical problem, the clinician will place some (unfortunately cold) lubricant on a finger, and then insert it into your anus. You will probably feel an uncomfortable pressure, but if you can relax, it shouldn’t hurt. The exam is usually quick.
The Most Important Part: Talk
The most important part of this exam is that you have an opportunity to talk about your body and your health concerns. Each year things change — your body, your lifestyle, and your attitudes. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians are an excellent source of information. If you have concerns about your body, sex, birth control, or anything else, take the opportunity to ask. At Planned Parenthood and many other health centers, your conversations are confidential. Be sure to ask about confidentiality if you’re unsure.
Make sure you know your health center’s phone number, so if you ever have a problem or a question, you have a trusted professional to give you the answers you need. If you need a referral to a health center in your area, call Planned Parenthood at 1-800-230-PLAN.