Assessment of Testicular Volume in Correlation with Spermiogram of Infertile Males in South India

Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between testicular volume measured by using Ultrasonography and seminogram to determine the testicular function in male infertility in Mysore, Karnataka, India. Materials and methods: A total of 274 infertile and 130 normozoospermic males were recruited for this study from Mysore, India. The testicular volumes of all subjects were measured by ultrasonography. After 3-5 days of ejaculatory abstinence the semen samples were collected in a sterile plastic container by the process of masturbation from the subjects and subjected for physical and microscopic examinations according to WHO criteria. Results: Testicular volume had the strongest positive correlation with sperm count, total count, volume and motility, followed in decreasing order by total sperm count per ejaculate, total motile sperm count per ejaculate, and percentage of motile sperm. Further, a positive correlation was found between testicular volume and semen volume; the latter was under the limit of normal in patients with a testicular volume of less than 16 ml. The majority of the patients with a testicular volume of less than 13 ml were azoospermic, while volumes of less than 18 ml were associated with severe oligozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia etc. Conclusion: Testicular volume has a direct correlation with semen profiles, and the critical testicular volume cut off indicating normal testicular 328 Sharath Kumar C. et al. function is approximately 23 ml. The measurement of testicular volume can be helpful for rapidly assessing fertility at the initial physical examination.