Size matters

Indeed it does. Length, more specifically, as an indicator of fertility. But it’s not the length of the penis, it’s the distance from the anus to the base of the penis or under the scrotum. An area referred to as the anogenital distance or AGD.

I missed that standardized unit of measurement when I was in school.

Nevertheless, it could be an important indicator of male fertility according to research published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Considering all the poking and probing that is usually done for a fertility test, this could be the least invasive. Drop your drawers and grab a measuring tape. It’s even do it yourself.

Apparently, the AGD is associated with semen volume and sperm count. The median AGD length is about two inches. Men with a shorter measurement have a seven times greater risk of experiencing fertility problems. The longer the AGD the better the fertility.

So why the differences in length? It could be maternal exposure to chemicals like phthalates or PVC-laced products. “We’re not saying chemicals are the only explanation, but we found when women are exposed to common phthalates that decrease testosterone, there is a 3whole cascade of things that can happen,” said Shanna Swan, a reproductive epidemiologist and professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester. “The short AGD is not happening in isolation.”

Some people scoff. “Assessment of AGD as a routine evaluation of one’s fertility is premature,” Natan Bar-Chama, who heads male reproductive medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City told Reuters.

Still, it’s not like the study is alone. Animal studies have detected a similar relationship and Swan’s separate studies support her conclusions. Until other research is done, it could be another tool in the tool box of fertility indicators.

Source: Time Healthland, Reuters