Awareness of genital health in young male athletes.

Objective: To assess young male athletes' understanding of the need for a genital examination during the sports physical, their knowledge of signs and symptoms of serious testicular pathology, and the type of genital protection they wear for specific sports. Additionally, to identify common sport-specific genital injuries requiring emergency department treatment.

Design: Descriptive survey.

Setting: Station-based mass screening preparticipation physical exams performed in northeastern Ohio.

Participants: A total of 755 male athletes at the junior high school, high school, and collegiate levels (age 12-25 years).

Main Outcome Measurements: Participants' answers to a 5-question survey. Male genital injury occurring in common contact and collision sports identified from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.

Results: Fifty percent did not understand why the genital examination is done. Forty-seven percent did not wear genital protection during sports. Most were unaware of the risk of testicular cancer and did not appreciate the difference in urgency of seeking medical treatment of painless versus painful testicular swelling. Approximately 20% of emergency department visits for sports-related genital trauma had a risk of permanent injury, and up to 7% resulted in hospitalization or transfer.

Conclusions: Young male athletes are unaware of testicular pathology that affects their age group, and many do not wear genital protection during sports. Better education of young males regarding genital health and protection is necessary.