The Prevalence of Varicocele and Evaluation of External Genital Organs of Boys on 3rd grade in Middle School in Chonju City

Kang, Min Ho; Park, Jong Kwan

Abstract

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to estimate development of secondary sex characters and genitalia including testicular volume, penile length and girth, and prevalence of varicocele. In addition, we evalua ted the relationship between testicular volume and presence of varicocele.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross sectional study was conducted on 893 school boys between the ages of 14 to 15 years, 3rd grade middle school in Chonju city during the period september to October, 1999. The testicular volume was measured in the upright posture using Prader's orchidometer and penile length and girth were estimated with a ruler. Varicocele was evaluated by dubin's method.
RESULTS
The testis volume (mean+/-SD) was 10.20+/-2.6ml on right and 9.93+/-2.6 on left and penile length (mean+/-SD) was 10.9+/-1.6cm and penile girth (mean+/-SD) was 8.0+/-0.8cm. The prevalence of varicocele was 38.2% (342/893) in left side, 16%(146/893) in right side. The difference in testicular volume between right and left testis was statistically significant in students with unilateral varicocele than the students without varicocele (0.78+/-1.06ml v/s, 0.54+/-1.01ml, p=0.004).
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we obtained mean testicular volume, penile length and girth and higher incidence rate of varicocele on adolescent school age group in Chonju area. The difference in testicular varicocele. The reduction of the testicular volume with varicocele correlated with the severity of grade of varicocele need following up to disclose the effect of the varicocele on the testicular growth and fertility potential.