The testicles and penis sizes and rates of external genital organ anomalies in primary school boys in Samsun

Abstract

Aim: To measure the sizes of testicles and penis to determine the standarts according to the age in primary school boys and to identify the rates of external genital anomalies and to inform patients' families about treatment options. Material and Method: After confirmation of the Ethics Committee (2009-79) of Ondokuz Mayis University, 977 male students with a mean age 8.67 +/- 1.51 years from three primary schools which selected by simple random sampling method in Samsun were included. Testicles and penis sizes were measured. Observed abnormalities were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using by SPSS 15.0. Results: Mean values for size of testicles and length of penis were calculated according to ages. In 44 students (4.5%), 52 genital abnormalities were detected. The most frequent anomalies were undescended testes 12 (1.2%) and inguinal hernia 8 (0.8%). Untreated external genital organs anomaly rates was 3.9% in primary school children. Conclusions: Recognizing the normal values of penis and testicles sizes in primary school children may contribute to better evaluation of external genitalia and detection of corresponding anomalies. Our study also revealed that the rates of external genital organ anomalies which had to be operated much earlier, were fairly high. (Turk Arch Ped 2011; 46: 159-63)