الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The testicular volume reflects spermatogenesis as the seminiferous tubules comprise 70% - 80% of the testicular mass. Adequate spermatogenesis is presumed to be possible only in a testis of normal or nearly normal volume.
Current testicular volume measurement methods involve the use of calipers, an orchidometer or ultrasonography (US). Although orchidometry is a conventional method that has been used for about 40 years, US is generally recognized as the most accurate based upon comparison with normal testicular volume.
In the present study, the aim was directed to evaluate the relationship between testicular function and volume measured by Prader orchidometer and ultrasonography.
The present study investigated 100 infertile men; attending the infertility outpatient clinic of Alexandria main university hospital and 20 adult random society sample males; For each patient and control subject, the following was done after taking a written consent: history taking (personal, medical, and sexual), both general physical and local genital examination with special reference to the testicular volume, semen analysis, and testicular ultrasound . Determinations of serum total testosterone, FSH and LH levels were measured in all subjects between 10-12 am using ADVIA centaur system.
The study revealed the following results:
• Testicular volume using either US or Prader orchidometry correlated significantly and positively with testicular function. So testicular volume is considered to be useful for evaluating testicular function. Testicular volume estimated by Prader orchidometer correlated strongly and significantly with the measurements by ultrasonography in infertile patients.
• Testicular function parameters (sperm density, total sperm count, sperm motility , total motile sperm count and normal sperm morphology) correlated significantly and positively with TTV using orchidometer and US but correlated more strongly with US TTV than orchidometric TTV. So adequate spermatogenesis is presumed to be possible only in a testis of normal or nearly normal volume.
• Serum FSH and LH correlated strongly and negatively with TTV measured by US and orchidometer but more strongly with US.
• Serum testosterone have no difference with TTV measured by US and orchidometer and the mean concentrations were normal in all testicular volumes indicating that in small testes the leydig cell function might be better preserved than the seminiferous tubule function.
• The prader orchidometer gives estimates that correlated well with the US measurements and provides enough information for routine andrological evaluation. We should be aware that the orchidometer often overestimates the testicular volume in comparison to US, especially for the patients with small testis or adolescents (volume differences between TTV using the two methods decreased with increasing US TTV).
• 54% of infertile men in the present study had a clinical varicocele.
• US has generally been recognized to be the most accurate specially in small testes but in the hands of an expert andrologist orchidometer provide relatively accurate, rapid and inexpensive assessment of testicular volume.