Measurement of testicular volume: comparison of 3 different methods.

PURPOSE: We compared 3 commonly used clinical methods to measure testicular volume.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The volumes of 151 testes in 76 adults treated for cryptorchidism during childhood were measured with an ordinary ruler, an orchidometer and ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Mean testicular volume was 15 +/- 8 ml. (standard elevation) measured with a ruler, 16 +/- 7 ml. with an orchidometer and 17 +/- 8 ml. with ultrasonography. The correlation among methods was significant.

CONCLUSIONS

To measure testicular size use of an ordinary ruler is recommended for clinical purposes because of its simplicity, availability and low cost.