Key genital measurement linked to male fertility

[bananas]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/04/us-genital-idUSTRE7230RO20110304

Key genital measurement linked to male fertility
By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent
WASHINGTON | Fri Mar 4, 2011 12:10am EST

<snip>

The dimension in question is not penis or testicle size, but a measurement known as anogenital distance, or AGD.

Men whose AGD is shorter than the median length -- around 2 inches (52 mm) -- have seven times the chance of being sub-fertile as those with a longer AGD, according to a study published on Friday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

<snip>

But previous studies, published in 2005 and 2008, looked at the possible link between mothers who were exposed to chemicals called phthalates during pregnancy and the AGD of their infant and toddler sons.

<snip>

In these earlier studies, the scientists tested for the presence of phthalates in the pregnant women's urine. They found that women who had high levels of phthalates in their urine during pregnancy gave birth to sons who were 10 times more likely to have shorter than expected AGDs.

<snip>

[Glorfindel]

1. Good grief...someone actually spends time MEASURING that?

What a fascinating world this is. Imagine the job description!

[Angry Dragon]

3. Have Tape Measure, Will Travel

[WatsonT]

8. I'm guessing that job got passed to a first year grad student

After signing on in a lab with vague promises of "cutting edge research in to human fertility".

Yep, you'll be part of that alright, we'll acknowledge your help somewhere on the last page, 6 font. Now here's your gloves and taint-measure. Enjoy.

[guitar man]

10. They probably got volunteers from the space program

Tricked them into it by asking them to volunteer for a mission to go explore Uranus.

:hide:

[brendan120678]

2. Well okay then...

I know as a teen I used to like to "take measurements" all the time.
Now I can figure out what AGD is by its name, but I don't think I've ever bothered with taking that measurement before.

[Ian David]

6. It never seems to be mentioned in personal ads, either. n/t

[WatsonT]

9. Reminds me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anm44OEkFFk

[Poll_Blind]

4. Anogenital distance, for those unfamiliar with the term, is the distance between...

...one's one's dilly-flopper and their whoa-there.

You're welcome.

PB

[Ian David]

5. Anogenital distance = the size of your 'tain't.

The anogenital distance is a measure of the distance between the anus and the base of the penis or vagina. Studies show that the human perineum is twice as long in males as in females.<4> Measuring the anogenital distance in neonatal humans has been suggested as a noninvasive method to determine male feminisation and thereby predict neonatal and adult reproductive disorders.<5>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perineum

[WatsonT]

7. Fancy name for your taint.

I'll have to remember that one.

[Orsino]

11. It's insane.

Mr. Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anm44OEkFFk