Investigation on the relationship between digit ratio (2d:4d), right-left 2d:4d differences and varicocele

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the digit measurement ratio and the incidence of varicocele Design: Prospective study Setting: Urology Department of Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey Subjects: One hundred and ninety male patients (no varicocele as group 1, n = 138; varicocele as group 2, n = 52) who presented to our urology clinic with infertility complaints between January and July 2017 were evaluated prospectively for the study. Interventions: The right 2D, right 4D, left 2D, left 4D lengths were measured by a 1-mm precision ruler with decimal divisions. Finger measurement ratios and differences were calculated with measurement results. Main outcome measures: Positive correlation was detected between the varicocele and the right 2D (p = 0.034), left 4D (p = 0.029), Dr-l (p = 0.01), Dr/l (p = 0.01) measurements, and negative correlation was detected between the digit asymmetry index (p = 0.01) and the varicocele. No relationship was detected between the right 2D:4D and the left 2D:4D. Results: Positive correlation was detected between the varicocele and the right 2D, left 4D, Dr-l, Dr/l measurements, and negative correlation was detected between the digit asymmetry index and the varicocele. Conclusion: Patients with low testosterone exposure in the prenatal period are more likely to get varicocele during adulthood and possibly because of the effect of prenatal testosterone hormone on the male genital system and the anatomical structure of the spermatic vein in the embryological period.