The eyesight

Ask your valentine about his eyesight. Most adults should check their eyes, at least biennially, for visual acuity (how well you see), pressure in the eyes, and status of the fundi (the back of the eye) and ocular chambers. These checks are necessary to pick up diseases such as glaucoma and retinopathies at an early stage for effective treatment.

Switch places

Having completed your valentine's examination, you might want to switch places and have your mate do the same for you. Or better still, make an appointment at your community's health centre and go in for a general check-up. What a wonderful Valentine's Day gift!

Check the mouth

Surely, it is in your interest, as well as his, to check his mouth. What is his breath odour like? Is it pleasant? What about his lips? Do they have a healthy colour? Are there any rashes present? Is the tongue rose pink? Look at the teeth and gums. Plan a visit to the dentist twice yearly. He or she can answer questions about any unusual colorations or bumps seen in the mouth.

Abdominal and genital examination

The physical examination of the abdomen should be done by a physician since this requires special training. However, it is in your interest to examine your partners genitalia (penis and testes) if you are sexually involved with him. If your partner is willing, ask him to undress and then look at the penis and the scrotum (bag containing the testes). Check the skin for warts, sores, scratches, bumps and any unusual skin colouring. Gently feel the testes between your fingers. Compare them. The normal testes are equal in size. Any hard lump or extra swelling should be checked by a doctor.

Check the neck and chest

Next look at his neck. Are there any swellings that seem unusual? This should be checked by a doctor. Move onto his chest, gently rubbing your hand over his breasts to check for lumps. Younger men may have normal enlargements of the breasts (called gynaecomastia), but all unusual lumps should be examined by a physician. Breast cancer does occur in men but, fortunately, this is rare.

Imagine you are meeting for the first time

One of the most important gifts you could give your lover this Valentine's Day is a physical examination. Take the perspective of a stranger; imagine that you're meeting for the first time. Does he appear underweight, overweight or even fat? Look at your lover's hair and skin. Does the colour look rich and well textured or does it appear dry and inelastic? Check the palms and tongue for pallor (paleness) by comparing them with your own. Pale-looking palms might suggest anaemia (weak blood) and should be checked by a doctor.

Dr Pauline Williams-Green is a family physician and president of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.