Lawley Pharmaceuticals, the makers of AndroForte and AndroFeme are running a big campaign to get men to check their testicles more often. it’s called Check Your Balls.
Talking about sexual dysfunction and your private parts is not easy, especially if you’re a man. Many men put off dealing with anything so personal, we’re all busy right? We can handle it, right? It’s just temporary, right?
No, not right. Just like women check their breasts for lumps and irregularities regularly, so men should do the same too.
There are many reasons to check your balls on a regular basis
If you are experiencing sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone or lack of sex drive, self-checking your balls should be the first thing you do, followed closely by a professional check-up. There could be an underlying medical issue or genetic condition linked to what you are experiencing, something that the results of a regular low testosterone blood test will not show.
Here is a basic guide to self-checking your balls.
Lawley launched their website CheckYourBalls.co.au last year. The main focus of the campaign was to get people checking for a genetic condition called Klinefelter’s Syndrome, however, Lawley also urges people to check their balls for lumps that could be an indication of cancer.
Klinefelter’s is one of the most common undiagnosed diseases in men. It’s not environmental and there’s nothing you can do to avoid getting it. It’s a genetic condition that applies to men only. It’s also known as XXY syndrome, a representative of the chromosomal abnormality developed in the womb.
Sometimes Klinefelter’s goes undiagnosed well into adulthood, even though the male has had it since birth. The reason for this is that many of the affected traits of the condition are quite common. It’s only when you put varying childhood and teenage issues together that you get the full picture. Even then, sometimes it goes undiagnosed until the man is trying to conceive and find himself with fertility issues.
The signs and symptoms of Klinefelter’s presents itself differently in children, teenagers and adults:
In summary, the main indications are small and undeveloped testicles, sparse body/facial hair, female-like body shape and fat distribution, low testosterone, sexual dysfunction, low self-esteem, infertility and depression. Children normally experience learning difficulties, delayed puberty, poor motor skills and poor social development.
The majority of men with Klinefelter’s have clinically low testosterone levels. When you find out you have low testosterone you think it’s just environmental, it’s because of age, because of stress, because of your lifestyle. What most doctors won’t check for is genetic abnormalities linked to Low testosterone.
Almost every man with klinefelter’s syndrome has small testicles. This problem is particularly pronounced in adult males. During puberty the testicles and hormones mature and grow, as does the testosterone levels. This growth is normally stunted in men with Klinefelter’s. The first thing you should do is check your balls to make sure they are within the normal size range, especially if you suffer from low testosterone. Too small or too large ball size is the first indication of a deeper issue.
This is why Lawley are encouraging men to check their testicle size. This is professionally done using an bead like instrument called an Orchidometer but if you don’t have one you can improvise. If your testicle size measures less than 4ml then you should have your balls professionally checked.
Especially if you have low testosterone. It could be the reason for it! While no-one likes to think they have a genetic illness, it’s also comforting to finally know the reason behind why you experience the symptoms that you do.
The same technique for checking your balls also applies to checking your balls for lumps and hardness and change in shape. All these can be indications that your reproductive system is changing and in some cases they can be an indication of cancer. Do not panic if you find a lump! It could be something that you have not noticed before and it could have been there for years, especially if you have never properly checked your balls before.
Like many men with low testosterone, Klinefelter’s is treated with testosterone replacement therapy. If you do get diagnosed with this abnormality, then it is not the end of the world. We need to stress this. If you have low testosterone, then you are probably taking testosterone therapy anyway. If your child has been diagnosed, then there are many support groups out there and many therapies to help aid their learning and social development. Also, testosterone can be prescribed to help with the onset of puberty and testicular development so they do not need to become an under-developed adult.
If you need any professional advice about Klinefelter’s treatment or information on how to check your balls you can contact CheckYourBalls.co.au directly.