what kind of doctor for a testicle lump?

November 28, 2010 8:23 AM

I'm going to see a doctor, but I'm not sure which kind.

Late 30s, and I've recently found a lump (about the size of a piece of rice) in my testicle. Obviously this requires a doctor. I don't have a doctor. What kind of doctor do I see? My insurance is good and doesn't require any kind of referral - do I go straight to a urologist? Or see a GP?

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

Urologist.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 8:25 AM on November 28, 2010

If a referral is not required, I think this is one of the rare times when seeing a specialist up front should be fine. If the lump is painless, it is unlikely that the diagnosis is going to be something a GP could easily take care of by themselves.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:29 AM on November 28, 2010

that being said, you need a GP too, for general health reasons, so if you have good insurance, you should get one of those too while you're thinking about it, and they can get you up to date on vaccines, screening tests, etc. that you may need, as well as helping with coordination of any care you may need in relation to further health issues that come up.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:30 AM on November 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Go to both and make sure to put them in touch.
posted by griphus at 8:41 AM on November 28, 2010

I've been here. Go directly to a urologist if you can.

All a GP will say is "hrm. Iuno. Go see a urologist."
posted by gnutron at 8:59 AM on November 28, 2010

Depending on you insurance and where you live, it could take weeks to months to get an appointment with the urologist. If that is the case, see an Internist in the meantime. If it's nothing, the Internist may be able to tell you that. If it's something that needs immediate attention, the Internist may be able to help you see the specialist quicker.

And really, at your age you should be getting the once over from an Internist or GP every year or two anyway.
posted by COD at 9:12 AM on November 28, 2010

GP or urologist. See whichever you can get to first. If they can see you at equally quickly, go to the urologist.
posted by zippy at 10:27 AM on November 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Nthing urologist. Mr. Adams found a similar lump several years ago and luckily we had a regular check-up scheduled just a few days later. He mentioned it to the doctor, who listened to the description and then wrote him a referral to a urologist without even looking at it. (P.S. The urologist manually examined Mr. Adams then ordered an ultrasound. Didn't appear to be a tumor; came back in six weeks for another U/S, nothing had changed; Mr. Adams was told to keep an eye on it and come back sooner if the lump changed in any way, otherwise come back in six months. Still no change, and all seems well. Hope you get a similar result.)
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:33 AM on November 28, 2010

Call the urologist. Tell the phone-answering-person, "I have a small lump in my testicles; I do not have a GP." They will set you up.

Meanwhile, find a GP, so next time you can call the GP and say, "I have a small lump in my testicles. Can you refer me to a urologist?" Often you get in faster.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:59 AM on November 28, 2010