Based on PubMed | Does regular exercise lower the risk of developing testicular cancer?

Regular exercise has many proven health benefits, but it does not appear to lower the risk of developing testicular cancer. Most large reviews and population studies have found no clear association positive or negative between physical activity and testicular cancer risk. Instead, known risk factors are largely unrelated to exercise and include things like a history of an undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) and certain developmental or family factors. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

What the research shows

• Epidemiologic reviews of urologic cancers report that while exercise may modestly reduce the risk of some cancers (such as kidney and advanced prostate), evidence does not support an association between physical activity and testicular cancer. ^[1]
• A large Norwegian cohort study (>53,000 men) similarly found no evidence of any link between occupational or recreational physical activity and testicular cancer. ^[2]
• Some older case-control studies reported mixed or contradictory signals when looking at specific activities (e.g., cycling, certain sports), but their results were not consistent and are considered insufficient to conclude that exercise changes testicular cancer risk. ^{[5] [6]}
• Broad public health summaries agree that exercise lowers risk for several cancers (colon, breast, endometrium, and others), but testicular cancer is not among the cancers with demonstrated exercise-related risk reduction. ^{[7] [8]}

Established risk factors for testicular cancer

• Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism): The most consistent and strongest risk factor. ^[3]
• Personal or family history of testicular cancer and certain patterns of testicular development. ^{[4] [9]}
• Testicular cancer is relatively rare overall and is most common in males aged 20–39. ^[4]

Why exercise is still important

Even though exercise hasn’t been shown to reduce testicular cancer risk, regular physical activity is strongly linked to lower risk for several other cancers and chronic diseases, helps with weight control, improves heart health, and supports mental well‑being. ^{[7] [10]}

• General cancer-prevention guidance suggests aiming for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus muscle-strengthening on 2 or more days, as tolerated. ^[10]

Practical guidance for testicular health

• Know your baseline and check regularly: Become familiar with how your testicles normally look and feel, and tell a clinician promptly if you notice a painless lump, swelling, heaviness, or a dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen. Early evaluation matters because testicular cancer is highly treatable when found early. ^[11]
• Discuss personal risk: If you had an undescended testicle or a family history of testicular cancer, consider asking your clinician about your individual risk and the value of periodic exams. ^{[3] [9]}

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Quick comparison: Exercise and cancer risk

Cancer type	Does regular exercise lower risk?	Strength of evidence
Colon	Yes	Convincing/probable evidence. [8]
Breast (female)	Yes	Convincing/probable evidence. [8]
Endometrium (uterine lining)	Yes	Convincing/probable evidence. [8]
Kidney	Likely small reduction	Growing but modest evidence. [1]
Prostate (advanced/aggressive)	Possible small reduction	Probable for advanced forms. [1]
Testicular	No clear association	Evidence generally null/insufficient. [1] [2]
Several others (e.g., bladder, esophagus, lung)	Varies by site	Mixed; many not applicable to testicular. [7] [8]

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Bottom line

• Regular exercise has many cancer-preventive benefits, but current evidence suggests it does not lower the risk of testicular cancer. ^{[1] [2]}
• Focus on exercise for overall health and other cancer risk reduction, and stay alert to testicular changes so you can seek timely care if anything feels unusual. ^{[7] [11]}