Abstract
BACKGROUND: Regular self-examination can facilitate early detection of testicular cancer and malignancies of the breast and may ensure a curative treatment. In this analysis we explored the tendencies of medical students to perform self-examination and associated factors. METHODS: As part of their urology rotation, medical students of the Technical University of Munich were surveyed via questionnaires regarding their health and sexual behavior. In all, 98.8% of the students participated and data from 473 of 477 students were included in this analysis. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: In all, 64.2% (n = 177) of the male students and 72.3% (n = 296) of the female students performed regular self-examination of the testis and breast, respectively. Students who did not communicate with their partners or friends about their sex lives were less likely to preform regular self-examination (p < 0.05). Male students without sexual intercourse in the 4 weeks prior to the survey and female students who did not masturbate in the 4 weeks prior to the survey were also less likely to preform regular self-examination (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The rate of regular self-examination is high in medical students compared to previous studies on young adults and non-medical students. This shows that knowledge about the significance of testicular cancer and breast cancer are fundamental for promoting self-examination in teenagers and young adults. A distressed sex life might hinder young adults in preforming regular self-examination. Therefore, improved education about the significance of testicular cancer and routine urological consultations for male teenagers and young men are ways to promote testicular self-examination within this age group.