If you’re a man, you can’t always count on your penis to be in tip-top sexual health, unless you take care of it—and the rest of your reproductive system. Unlike women, most men haven’t gotten into the routine of visiting their doctors once a year for a checkup. But that doesn’t mean they’re not necessary. All men should also get a physical each year.

And, men, if you notice any changes in your sexual health (a foul discharge perhaps, or pain during urination), you should see a doctor immediately, because it could be a sexually transmitted disease, or something worse. The only way to know is to get checked out.

The Testicular Self-Exam: You’ve Got Balls, Check ‘Em Out

While it’s common knowledge that women should see a gynecologist on a yearly basis for a Pap smear and for pelvic and breast exams, it’s much less common for men to be aware of their own need for regular testicular and prostate exams.

Just what is a testicular self-exam (TSE)? It’s a simple, painless, free method of identifying STDs and testicular cancer, a curable disease—if caught early.

Ideally, all men should perform a monthly testicular self-exam, starting at the onset of puberty. The best time to do the exam is when the scrotal skin is most relaxed, say, after a bath, shower, or sex. To perform a testicular self-exam, take a look at the preceding illustration and follow these simple steps:

  • Place the index and middle fingers of each hand under your testicles and your thumbs on top.
  • Roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers, noting its weight and texture.
  • Keep in mind that the testes are not the only thing inside the scrotum. The epididymis is set at the back of the testes—and lumpy as it is, it does belong there. Aside from the epididymis, which can feel like a thin cord, your testicles should feel smooth and firm.
  • If you feel a hard lump, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor.

Becoming familiar with how your body and genitals look and feel, will help you recognize when something changes. In addition to doing that testicular self-exam, also keep an eye on your penis. Watch it for any abnormal discharge or inflammation. If anything seems out of the ordinary, see a doctor. Find a doctor you’re comfortable with, who can answer questions and treat your symptoms before they turn into something worse.

Just Relax, It’s the Prostate Exam

If you’ve been seeing your doctor once a year for a physical, keep it up. If you haven’t, you should starting making a habit of these annual visits. For men over age 40, the doctor’s examination will supplement the testicular self-exams and will include one exam that only health-care professionals are qualified to do. I don’t mean the “turn your head and cough” test, either. (That’s a test for hernias.) I mean the “lie down, and close your eyes” prostate exam.

You may have to lie down for the exam, but don’t lie down and accept the all-too-common prostate cancer. Prostate cancer, which claims the lives of over 40,000 males a year in the U.S., is easily detected and effectively treated if diagnosed early. To make sure you have all the advantages against prostate cancer that you can have, you can undergo a prostate exam. This exam will also alert you to other possible complications, such as an enlarged prostate or pre-cancerous lumps.

The hole in the donut-shaped prostate gland, located below a man’s bladder, surrounds the urethra—the tube that carries semen and urine. Any disease that affects the prostate may also affect the urethra. The private parts are all in it together. Problems with the prostate can result in:

  • The sensation that the bladder is never empty and/or a feeling of urgency to urinate.
  • The feeling that you need to push or force urine out.
  • Disrupted sleep because of an increased need to urinate during the night.
  • Uneven flow or stopping and starting of the urine flow.

All it takes for the prostate to enlarge is testosterone and aging. If you’re male and human, it’s hard to avoid those two things. Isn’t this enough to make you commit to a yearly exam?

Okay, men, here’s what happens during the exam. A doctor can easily examine the prostate by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum, through which he can feel the prostate gland. It only takes a moment or two, and it should not hurt. Though you may not be comfortable with this idea, it can save your life.

The doctor can do a blood test for this, too, although it does not replace the need for the digital prostate exam, since it cannot detect lumps or nodules. It’s called a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test, and it determines the amount of a protein produced by cells in a man’s prostate gland. If the level of this antigen present in the prostate gland is problematic, then it indicates prostate cancer. If your doctor does find a problem (and he might, because as many as 4 out of 10 U.S. males develop enlarged prostates), many options are available ranging from “watch, wait, and see” to oral medication to surgery.

The threat of any kind of disease is scary. But if you know your body—how it looks and how it feels—and you check it regularly for any lumps, bumps, or strange discharge, you’re taking a proactive approach to your health. Remember, early detection means you can get the treatment you need to live a happy, healthy, and sexually fulfilling life.