Editing Orchidometer

{{Short description|Measurement device for testicle volume}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2013}}
[[File:Orchidometr.png|thumb|300px|A schematic of an orchidometer]]
An '''orchidometer''' (or '''orchiometer''') is a [[medical instrument]] used to measure the [[volume]] of the [[testicle]]s.

==Instrument==
[[File:Tanner scale male intact.svg|right|thumb|178x178px|Tanner scale for males with corresponding orchidometer bead and volume.]]
The orchidometer was introduced in 1966 by Swiss pediatric [[endocrinologist]] [[Andrea Prader]] of the [[University of Zurich]].<ref>[{{GBurl|k8RXDwAAQBAJ|p=16}} Page 16] in: {{cite book |doi=10.1007/978-3-662-52783-2_1 |chapter=Körperliche Entwicklung im Jugendalter |title=Jugendmedizin |date=2018 |last1=Richter-Unruh |first1=Annette |last2=Doerfer |first2=Jürgen |last3=Schwab |first3=Karl Otfried |pages=3–18 |isbn=978-3-662-52782-5 |trans-chapter=Physical development in adolescence |trans-title=Adolescent medicine |language=de }}</ref> It consists of a string of twelve numbered wooden or plastic beads of increasing size from about 1 to 25 [[millilitre]]s. [[Physician|Doctor]]s sometimes informally refer to them as "Prader's balls", "the medical [[worry beads]]", or the "endocrine [[rosary]]".<ref name=Hindmarsh2017p86>[{{GBurl|V5ExDQAAQBAJ|p=86}} Page 86] in: {{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-811483-4.00007-6 |chapter=Puberty |title=Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia |date=2017 |last1=Hindmarsh |first1=Peter C. |last2=Geertsma |first2=Kathy |pages=83–94 |isbn=978-0-12-811483-4 }}</ref>

The beads are compared with the testicles of the patient, and the volume is read off the bead which matches most closely in size. Prepubertal sizes are 1–3 ml, pubertal sizes are considered 4 ml and up and adult sizes are 15-25 ml.<ref name=Hindmarsh2017p86/>

The orchidometer can be used to accurately determine size of testes. Discrepancy of testicular size with other parameters of maturation can be an important clue to various diseases. Small testes can indicate either primary or secondary [[hypogonadism]]. Testicular size can help distinguish between different types of [[precocious puberty]]. Since testicular growth is typically the first physical sign of true puberty, one of the most common uses is as confirmation that puberty is beginning in a boy with [[delayed puberty]]. Large testes ([[macroorchidism]]) can be a clue to one of the most common causes of [[intellectual disability|inherited generalised learning disability]], [[fragile X syndrome]].

Stephen Shalet, a leading endocrinologist who works for the [[Christie Hospital]] in [[Manchester]], is reported to have told ''[[The Observer]]'': "Every endocrinologist should have an orchidometer. It's his [[stethoscope]]."{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

Orchidometers are also commonly used to measure testicular volume of [[sheep|rams]].

==Related concept==
Numerous clinical scales and measurement systems exist to define genitals as normal male or female, or "abnormal", including the [[Prader scale]], [[Quigley scale]], and the satirical [[Phall-O-Meter]].{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Prader |first1=A. |title=Testicular size: assessment and clinical importance |journal=Triangle |date=1966 |volume=7 |issue=6 |pages=240–243 |pmid=5920758 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Taranger |first1=J. |last2=Engström |first2=I. |last3=Lichtenstein |first3=H. |last4=Svennberg-Redegren |first4=I. |title=Somatic Pubertal Development |journal=Acta Paediatrica |date=April 1976 |volume=65 |issue=S258 |pages=121–135 |doi=10.1111/j.1651-2227.1976.tb14766.x |pmid=1066958 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Lin |first1=Chih-Chieh |last2=Huang |first2=William J. S. |last3=Chen |first3=Kuang-Kuo |title=Measurement of Testicular Volume in Smaller Testes: How Accurate Is the Conventional Orchidometer? |journal=Journal of Andrology |date=12 November 2009 |volume=30 |issue=6 |pages=685–689 |doi=10.2164/jandrol.108.006460 |pmid=19578133 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Behre |first1=H. M. |last2=Nashan |first2=Dorothée |last3=Nieschlag |first3=E. |title=Objective measurement of testicular volume by ultrasonography: evaluation of the technique and comparison with orchidometer estimates |journal=International Journal of Andrology |date=December 1989 |volume=12 |issue=6 |pages=395–403 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2605.1989.tb01328.x |pmid=2696729 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Sakamoto |first1=Hideo |last2=Saito |first2=Katsuyuki |last3=Ogawa |first3=Yoshio |last4=Yoshida |first4=Hideki |title=Testicular Volume Measurements Using Prader Orchidometer Versus Ultrasonography in Patients with Infertility |journal=Urology |date=January 2007 |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=158–162 |doi=10.1016/j.urology.2006.09.013 |pmid=17270640 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Diamond |first1=David A. |last2=Paltiel |first2=Harriet J. |last3=DiCanzio |first3=James |last4=Zurakowski |first4=David |last5=Bauer |first5=Stuart B. |last6=Atala |first6=Anthony |last7=Ephraim |first7=Patti L. |last8=Grant |first8=Rosemary |last9=Retik |first9=Alan B. |title=Comparative Assessment of Pediatric Testicular Volume: Orchidometer Versus Ultrasound |journal=Journal of Urology |date=September 2000 |volume=164 |issue=3 Part 2 |pages=1111–1114 |doi=10.1016/S0022-5347(05)67264-3 |pmid=10958754 }}

{{Intersex}}
{{Male congenital anomalies of genital organs}}

[[Category:Male genital procedures]]
[[Category:Medical equipment]]
[[Category:Dimensional instruments]]
[[Category:1966 introductions]]
[[Category:Testicle]]
[[Category:Intersex healthcare]]