Editing Seminal vesicles (section)

=== Investigations ===
Symptoms due to diseases of the seminal vesicles may be vague and not able to be specifically attributable to the vesicles themselves; additionally, some conditions such as tumours or cysts may not cause any symptoms at all.<ref name="Smiths2019" /> When diseases is suspected, such as due to pain on ejaculation, [[Hematuria|blood in the urine]], [[infertility]], due to urinary tract obstruction, further investigations may be conducted.<ref name="Smiths2019" />

A [[Digital Rectal Examination|digital rectal examination]], which involves a finger inserted by a medical practitioner through the anus, may cause greater than usual tenderness of the prostate gland, or may reveal a large seminal vesicle.<ref name="Smiths2019" /> Palpation is dependent on the length of index finger as seminal vesicles are located above the prostate gland and retrovesical (behind the bladder).

A urine specimen may be collected, and is likely to demonstrate blood within the urine.<ref name="Smiths2019" /> Laboratory examination of seminal vesicle fluid requires a semen sample, e.g. for semen [[Microbiological culture|culture]] or [[semen analysis]]. [[Semen analysis#Fructose level|Fructose levels]] provide a measure of seminal vesicle function and, if absent, [[wikt:bilateral|bilateral]] [[agenesis]] or obstruction is suspected.<ref name="smiths" />

Imaging of the vesicles is provided by [[medical imaging]]; either by [[transrectal ultrasound]], [[Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis|CT]] or [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] scans.<ref name="Smiths2019" /> An examination using [[cystoscopy]], where a flexible tube is inserted in the urethra, may show disease of the vesicles because of changes in the normal appearance of the nearby bladder trigone, or prostatic urethra.<ref name="Smiths2019" />