The testicles, also called testes, are located inside the scrotum, a loose bag of skin below the penis. They produce male hormones and sperm. The testicles are normally smooth, oval-shaped, and somewhat firm. Sperm is collected by the epididymus, carried through the vas deferens and stored in semen within the seminal vesicles that lie above the prostate gland. Regular examination by gently rolling each testicle between the thumb and forefingers helps men discover any changes or abnormalities.
Testicular cancer can cause a number of symptoms.
Other diseases and conditions can cause these symptoms. Researchers don't know what causes testicular cancer. The testes are formed in the abdominal area during gestation and later descend into the scrotum. Men who have a testicle that never descended are at greater risk for testicular cancer than other men. The risk remains even if the testicle has been surgically relocated to the scrotum.