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Lim, Bahk, and Min: Testicular Volume of Korean Young Adult Men as Measured by Ultrasonography: Relationship with Body Mass Index
Original Article
Sexual Dysfunction/Infertility
Korean Journal of Urology

Korean Journal of Urology 2009; 50(6): 591-595.

Published online: 20 June 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2009.50.6.591

Testicular Volume of Korean Young Adult Men as Measured by Ultrasonography: Relationship with Body Mass Index

Jong Wan Lim, Jong Yoon Bahk1, Seung Ki Min

Department of Urology, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

1Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.

Correspondence to: Seung Ki Min. Department of Urology, National Police Hospital, Garakbon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-708, Korea. TEL: 02-3400-1263, FAX: 02-431-3192, msk0701@hanmail.net

Received 19 March 2009       Accepted 1 June 2009

Copyright © The Korean Urological Association, 2009

Abstract

Purpose

Testicular volume is one of the important indices that represent the reproductive ability of adult males. In previous studies, however, testicular volume was measured by manual palpation or orchidometer, resulting in inaccuracy or subjectivity. Accordingly, the need for accurate data on the size of the testes is increasing, and we conducted testicular volume measurements by using scrotal ultrasonography. We investigated the relationship between testicular volume and body weight, height, and body mass index (BMI).

Materials and Methods

The testicular volumes of 1,002 young adult Korean men were measured for length, width, and thickness with ultrasonography, and data on BMI were collected conventionally. The correlation between testicular volume and BMI was analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Student's t-test.

Results

The mean age of the young men was 23.02±2.53 years. The mean testicular volume was 18.09±3.79 cc on the left and 18.26±3.21 cc on the right. Testicular volume was directly proportional to body weight, height, and body mass index.

Conclusions

The testicular volume of Korean young adult men was about 18.17 cc. Testicular volume has a weak direct correlation with body weight, height, and body mass index.

Keywords: Testis, Ultrasonography, Body mass index

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
(A) Correlations between right testicular volume and body mass index (r=0.243; p<0.001). (B) Correlations between left testicular volume and body mass index (r=0.123; p<0.001).
kju-50-591-g001
Table 1
Patient characteristics: age, testis size, and body size
kju-50-591-i001
Table 2
Ultrasonographic measurements on 1,002 testes (3-dimensional measurements)
kju-50-591-i002
Table 3
Testicular volumes by three examiners
kju-50-591-i003

p-value by one-way ANOVA

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