Men generally don’t need to be told to spend time looking at and feeling their penises; these are activities they tend to perform frequently and on a voluntary basis. However, it’s important to pay this type of attention to the penis for purposes beyond the recreational. Self-examinations are how many men first become aware of symptoms that may indicate poor penis health. Since early detection and treatment are ideal for most all health conditions, men should commit to performing regular examinations of the equipment with an eye toward abnormalities. Keep the following in mind when performing self-exams.

Testicles

Men should spend some time with their testicles to feel for any lumps, painful areas or surface bumps. The ideal time to examine the sack is when a man has just emerged from a warm shower, as the testicles will be descended.

Go one at a time. Take a testicle in the fingers and gently roll it around. If a man has a painful or tender area, this could indicate an infection. If he feels a hard area or lump, no matter how small, this could be the first sign of testicular cancer. In either case, a man should seek medical attention to confirm or rule out a health problem.

Men should also look and feel for surface bumps that may indicate a rash or sexually transmitted infection (STI). Different rashes and infections manifest in different ways. Anything abnormal is reason to seek out diagnosis from a medical professional.

The Penis

There are a number of things to look and feel for along the penis:

- Bumps, sores or warts: Beginning with the head (and under the foreskin if uncircumcised), a man should slowly and carefully examine for these symptoms. Move to the shaft next, being mindful not to neglect the hard-to-see underside (a mirror can help here). Once a man has felt and visually examined the head and shaft, move on to the base. Separate pubic hair and examine the skin beneath it for bumps, sores or warts.

- Urethral symptoms: Men should pay attention to how the opening of their penises feel, and to what comes out of them. Does it burn when one urinates? Is there abnormal discharge coming from the tip? These may indicate infections that require treatment.

- Sensitivity levels: A man should also reflect on his sensitivity levels. If he notices that he requires a tighter grip in order to feel pleasure when masturbating, for example, or has a hard time staying hard with a partner, these could indicate decreased penile sensitivity. Resolving the issue may involve treating an underlying nerve or circulation problem, or simply changing his masturbation habits to reacquaint his penis to gentler stimulation.

- Skin condition: How’s the skin look and feel? Is it smooth and supple or dry and flaky? Keeping the skin in good condition is important both for aesthetic and health reasons - chronically chafed skin can lead to reduced sensitivity levels over time.

Things that generally are not causes for concern are: a slight curve when erect; variation in color along the penis (unless sudden); Fordyce spots; pearly penile papules.

If a man notices that his skin could be in better condition down there, he can begin using a skin care product made just for men. A quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) will effectively manage common skin issues such as dryness and flakiness that may be caused by the frictions of the day and night. Man1 Man Oil contains Shea butter and vitamin E, two exceptional natural moisturizers. Taking a little time each day to apply the crème gives men the opportunity to feel around while contributing to the health of their members.