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Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you're experiencing pain, you should get emergency care. If you detect a scrotal mass, you'll probably start by seeing your family doctor. For some diagnostic tests, you may be referred to a specialist in urinary tract and male sexual disorders (urologist). Preparing for your appointment with your doctor or a urologist will help you make the best use of your time. Preparations that you would make for your child's appointment are, for the most part, the same as you would make for yourself.

What you can do
Make a list ahead of time that you can share with your doctor. Your list should include:

  • Symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to a scrotal mass
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes
  • Medications that you're taking, including any vitamins or supplements
  • Family history of testicular cancer or other disorders of the scrotum
  • Personal medical history, such as previous scrotal masses, undescended testicle or congenital defects related to the genitals
  • Questions to ask your doctor

List questions for your doctor from most important to least important in case time runs out. If you think you have signs or symptoms of a scrotal mass, you may ask some of the following questions.

  • What tests will I need to diagnose the condition?
  • How long will it take to find out the results of tests?
  • If the scrotal mass is cancerous (malignant), what are the next steps?
  • If the scrotal mass isn't cancerous, will we need to treat the condition?
  • Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment if you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

  • When did you first discover a lump or experience other symptoms associated with a scrotal mass?
  • Are you experiencing pain now, or have you experienced pain?
  • Have you had symptoms that may suggest a bacterial or viral infection, such as fever or blood or pus in your urine?
  • Have you had a recent injury to the groin?
  • Does anything, such as pain medication, improve your symptoms?
  • Does anything worsen symptoms, such as exercise or exertion that puts a strain on the groin?
  • Did you have an undescended or retractile testicle that was corrected with surgery?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease?
  • Do you have multiple sex partners or a new sex partner?
Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. Orchitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.  http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch239/ch239e.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  2. Epididymitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.  http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch239/ch239d.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  3. Testicular cancer. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.  http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch241/ch241h.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  4. Haynes JH. Inguinal and scrotal disorders. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2006;86:371.
  5. Junnila J, et al. Testicular masses. American Family Physician. 1998;57:685.
  6. Shaw J. Diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer. American Family Physician. 2008;7:469.
  7. Brenner JS, et al. Causes of painless scrotal swelling in children and adolescents.  http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 28, 2009.
  8. Galejs LE. Diagnosis and treatment of the acute scrotum. American Family Physician. 1999;59:817.
  9. Elder J. Disorders and anomalies of the scrotal contents. In: Kliegman R, et al., eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders/Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/142753628-2/0/1608/1246.html?tocnode=54484554&fromURL=1246.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50547-8_9817. Accessed May 20, 2009.
  10. Cole FL, et al. The acute, nontraumatic scrotum: Assessment, diagnosis, and management. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2004;16:50.
  11. Marcozzi D, et al. The nontraumatic, acute scrotum. Emergency Medical Clinics of North America. 2001;19:547.
  12. Testicular cancer: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute.  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/testicular. Accessed May 25, 2009.
  13. Cooper C, et al. Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  14. Barthold JS, et al. The epidemiology of congenital cryptorchidism, testicular ascent and orchiopexy. Journal of Urology. 2003;170:2396.
  15. Eyre RC. Evaluation of the acute scrotum in adult men.  http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 28, 2009.
  16. Information from your family doctor. Testicular cancer. American Family Physician. 2004;69:613.

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July 14, 2009

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