Abstract
In an attempt to correlate possible changes in testicular volume with the rise in gonadotropins and testosterone which occurs during early infancy, we followed the testicular volume of 10 normal infants during the first 5 months of life. Using a calibrated orchidometer with reference beads of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 m1, a single observer performed testicular measurements at birth and at monthly intervals thereafter. Infants with hydrocele or undescended testes were excluded from the study. The mean testicular volumes for each side are shown in the following Table:
The mean testicular volume increased from birth to one month of age, reaching a peak at 2 to 3 months and decreased thereafter. Mean testicular volume at 1 month of age was significantly higher than at birth (p < 0.0025), and at 5 months significantly lower than at 2 months of age (p < 0.05). We conclude that changes in testicular volume closely parallel the known rise in gonadotropins and testosterone which occurs during early infancy.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cassorla, F., Golden, S., Heroman, W. et al. 389 LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF TESTICULAR VOLUME DURING EARLY INFANCY. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 505 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00400
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00400