Penile length and cord total and free testosterone in full term male Egyptian neonates

Abstract EN

Background: It is inappropriate to use universal reference values to interpret stretched penile length measurements and testosterone concentrations in newborns with variable ethnic backgrounds.

Objective: To establish normal reference values for stretched penile length, free and total testosterone concentrations in fullterm Egyptian newborn and to correlate them with anthropometric parameters.

Methods: 180 fullterm healthy newborn boys to uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries were enrolled.

Penile length, weight, length, occipitofrontal circumference were measured within 24 h of birth.

Total and free testosterone concentrations were assayed.

Results: The mean penile length was 3.14 ± 0.38 cm, the mean free testosterone was 13.76± 8.67 pg/ml, mean total testosterone was 1.98 ±1.35 ng/ml.

Penile length correlated positively to birth weight, to crown heel length and to penile length/crown heel length ratio.

Penile length correlated positively to free and total testosterone.

Total testosterone level correlated positively to crown heel length and to free testosterone.

Conclusion: Our study is a step toward achieving accurate reference charts for Egyptian male newborns.

A multicenter, larger scale study is needed to establish Egyptian norms.