A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about testicular self-examination. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Testicular self-examination (TSE) is recommended as a monthly self-screening practice for early detection of testicular cancer, which is most common in males between ages 15 and 35. The best time to perform TSE is after a warm shower or bath because the heat causes the scrotal skin to relax and the testes to descend, making it easier to feel any lumps, changes in size, or irregularities. Performing TSE every 6 months is incorrect — monthly examination is the standard recommendation to identify any new or changing abnormalities promptly. Examining both testicles at the same time is incorrect technique; each testicle should be examined individually using both hands, with the index and middle fingers supporting the underside and the thumbs on top, gently rolling the testis to feel the entire surface. Using the palm of the hand is incorrect because the fingertips provide much greater sensitivity for detecting small nodules or changes in texture. The client should also be taught to identify the epididymis, a soft, rope-like structure at the back of the testicle, to avoid mistaking it for an abnormality. Any painless lump, heaviness, or change in size should be reported to a health care provider immediately.