BOYS

 Where should you go if you have questions about sexual or reproductive health concerns, information, or check- ups? 1. Your pediatrician or family doctor 2. A walk-in clinic  Planned Parenthood (Apple Valley)  Free/Low cost STI testing centers

 What factors would make it easier to go to the doctor or clinic to ask about Sexual Health concerns? Before the visit…  Write down any questions you may have  Ask if a friend or family member can come with you During the visit…  Take notes  Ask questions using the notes you prepared  If you don’t understand, say so  Tell the doctor your symptoms  Tell the doctor your thoughts & feelings  Repeat what the doctor has said in your own words After the visit…  Review the notes  Get more information if you need it  Get a 2 nd opinion if necessary  Switch doctors if you & your doctor don’t have a good rapport

 Circumcision The cutting away of the foreskin, the skin that covers the head of the penis. The surgery is usually performed when a baby is only a few days old and is elective…meaning the parents made the choice. The choice is usually based on religious, cultural, or traditional reasons. Uncircumcised males need to make sure to pull back the foreskin to clean the head of the penis.  Anabolic Steroids They temporarily add body weight & muscle, but they are dangerous. Use of steroids can cause atrophy (shrinking) of the male sex organs and can cause liver & heart problems.  Testicular Cancer 3 EV students (that we know of) have been diagnosed & treated in the last 5 years. Very curable if detected early…many times diagnosed because of another injury.  Sexually Transmitted Infections Most infections can be tested for and treated easily by a doctor. Treatment of an infection early may prevent it from spreading and causing further health concerns.

 A testicular self exam should be done once per month starting at puberty.  A testicular self exam should be done after a warm bath or shower so the scrotum is loose and the testicles can move around more freely.

1. Check for changes in size & weight of each testicle 2. Feel the epididymis, or soft tube at the back & top of each testicle 3. Feel the firm, smooth tube of the vas deferens which runs from the top of the epididymis 4. Using fingers & thumbs of both hands, roll each testicle back & forth to gently feel the surface of each testicle. The testicles should be smooth with no lumps or swellings. * Cancer RARELY affects both testicles at the same time. If you’re not sure if one testicle feels normal, compare it with the other.

 What should you do if you notice a change? See your doctor if you notice a lump, swelling, or hardening (usually on the front or side) or a dull ache or pain. DON’T WAIT to see if it will go away. Your doctor will tell you if you need more testing.

 Facts about Testicular Cancer Testicular cancer is rare but the rate has doubled in the last 20 years. It can affect males of any age occurring most often in men age The risk is higher in men who have a father or brother who have testicular cancer. It’s more common in men whose testicles did not descend into the scrotum, or descended after age 6. It’s considered one of the most curable cancers. As with most cancers, early detection is key to successful treatment

 How can you help prevent testicular cancer? As with most cancers, specific causes aren’t yet known. Young boys should be checked for undescended testicles to decrease their risk Risk for cancer in general is known to decrease with healthy choices  Eating well  Tobacco reduction  Coping with stress  Keeping physically active

 Be at a different stage of physical development from peers of the same age  Have one testicle larger and lower-hanging than the other  Have their testicles hang closer to, or further from, the body, depending upon temperature changes, stress, or sexual arousal  Be “normal” with either a circumcised or uncircumcised penis  Have whitish, cheesy substance (smegma) under the foreskin, if uncircumcised.  Have a pimple or hair on the penis

 Have genital hair of different color from hair on other parts of the their bodies  Have some natural, healthy genital odor  Have frequent erections, sometimes due to sexual arousal, stress or general excitement, and sometimes for no apparent reason  Wake up in the morning with an erection  Sometimes lose an erection during intercourse  Masturbate occasionally, frequently, or not at all (with no resulting physical harm)

 Have erections without ejaculating  Have wet dreams (nocturnal emissions)  Have flaccid (limp) penis length of under 5”  Believe, incorrectly, that penis size is crucial to proper sexual functioning  Have an ache in the testicles (“blue balls”) after prolonged sexual arousal (which will go away by itself or can be relieved through masturbation)  Have breast swelling during puberty which disappears after puberty ends  Have some breast tenderness or sore spot under one or both nipples.

 Get breast cancer  Get testicular cancer  Have hernias – A hernia is an opening or weakness in the wall of a muscle, tissue, or membrane that normally holds an organ in place.  Have foreskin stick to the penis (uncircumcised male)

1. Pain: Pain, burning and/or itching while urinating Sharp pain in testicles that lasts more than a few minutes Moderate pain in testicle or groin that lasts more than a day or two Persistent itching around testicles, inside thighs, or in anal area 2. Change in body: More frequent urinating Colored or smelly discharge from end of penis Discharge from the nipple Lump, growth, or sore in testicles or other part of genitals

 Having regular check-ups  Doing a monthly testicle exam  Examining genitals for sores, unusual lumps  Keeping genitals clean and dry  Not wearing tight jeans or pants  If having intercourse, using condoms to prevent STIs and unintended pregnancy  Getting tested for STIs if you’ve had intercourse  Uncircumcised males need to make sure to pull back the foreskin to clean the head of the penis

 Where should you go if you have questions about sexual or reproductive health concerns, information, or check- ups? 1. Your pediatrician or family doctor 2. A walk-in clinic  Planned Parenthood (Apple Valley)  Free/Low cost STI testing centers