Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) suffers from lack of standardization. The European Academy of Andrology(EAA) has promoted a multicenter study to assess the TRUS characteristics of healthy-fertile men(HFM) to obtain normative parameters. The aim of this study is to report prostate and seminal vesicles(SV) reference ranges and characteristics in HFM and their associations with clinical, seminal and biochemical parameters.

188 HFM men(35.6±6.0 years) were studied, evaluating, on the same day, clinical, biochemical, seminal and TRUS following Standard Operating Procedures.

TRUS reference range and characteristics of the prostate and SV of HFM are reported herein. The mean PV was~25 ml. PV lower and upper limits were 15 and 35 ml, thresholds defining prostate hypotrophy and enlargement, respectively. PV was positively associated with age, waistline and current smoking, but not with T levels. In addition, PV correlated positively with seminal volume and negatively with seminal pH. Furthermore, PV was positively associated with prostate inhomogeneity, macrocalcifications, calcification size and prostate arterial parameters. Finally, PV was correlated positively with SV volume before and after ejaculation, along with deferential and epididymal size. Prostate calcifications and inhomogeneity were frequent, while midline prostatic cysts were rare and small. Ejaculatory ducts abnormalities were absent. Periprostatic venous plexus size was positively associated...

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The present findings will help in better understanding male infertility pathophysiology and the meaning of specific TRUS findings.