Research Article

Morphometric Examination of Anogenital Distance, Penis and Clitoris Dimensions in Human Fetuses

10.4274/atfm.galenos.2023.47704

  • Caner İsbir
  • Özlem Elvan
  • Şener Çolak
  • Alev Bobuş Örs
  • Ali Naycı

Received Date: 14.08.2023 Accepted Date: 10.09.2023 J Ankara Univ Fac Med 2023;76(3):252-257

Objectives:

In the study, morphometric measurements of anogenital distance, penis and clitoris dimensions were taken in female and male fetuses. In this way, it is aimed to contribute to the determination of antenatal period standards related to the subject.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty-five fetuses were included in the study. The anogenital distance was measured as the anus midline-posterior fourchette in girls, and the anus midline-posterior scrotal raphe in boys. Clitoris length and clitoral glans width were measured in female fetuses. Penis (glans) width and penis length were measured in male fetuses.

Results:

Of the 55 fetuses, 29 were female, 26 were male. Anogenital distance values were found to be significantly higher in male fetuses in both second and third trimesters compared to female fetuses (p=0.031). While a significant relationship was found between anogenital distance and phallus length values in male fetuses, no significant relationship was found in female fetuses (p<0.001), (p=0.212). In the second trimester, values of phallus length less than 5.58 mm and phallus width less than 4.55 mm are associated with female gender. In the third trimester, phallus length less than 4.79 mm and phallus width less than 5.08 mm were found to be associated with female gender (p<0.0001), (p=0.0003).

Conclusion:

It is thought that the reference values determined in the study regarding the phallus dimensions and the relationship of these values with the anogenital distance may contribute to the issues of deviation from normal and sex determination in the antenatal period.

Keywords: Anogenital Distance, Penis, Clitoris

Full Text (Turkish)