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A healthy 54-year-old man previously presented to vascular surgeons with a 4-year history of swelling of the penis and scrotum was scheduled for ultrasound evaluation in the angiology office in our department. At presentation, there was a giant enlargement of the penis and scrotum, without swelling of the legs. Ultrasound evaluation was negative for vascular abnormalities. A diagnosis of chronic lymphatic disease was suspected; thus, a lymphoscintigraphy was performed. This test was normal showing, a good visualization of major lymphatics. The patients had a history of psoriasis with a documented previous event of flexural psoriasis involving his genitals with secondary infection 4 years before. Since that infection, his genitals progressively increased in size, and despite medical treatment and different surgical evaluations, the patient's symptoms have not resolved, with marked disability associated with walking and sexual activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthy 54-year-old man previously presented to vascular surgeons with a 4-year history of swelling of the penis and scrotum was scheduled for ultrasound evaluation in the angiology office in our department. At presentation, there was a giant enlargement of the penis and scrotum, without swelling of the legs. Ultrasound evaluation was negative for vascular abnormalities. A diagnosis of chronic lymphatic disease was suspected; thus, a lymphoscintigraphy was performed. This test was normal showing, a good visualization of major lymphatics. The patients had a history of psoriasis with a documented previous event of flexural psoriasis involving his genitals with secondary infection 4 years before. Since that infection, his genitals progressively increased in size, and despite medical treatment and different surgical evaluations, the patient’s symptoms have not resolved, with marked disability associated with walking and sexual activity.

Estrone conjugate (E1C) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) were predominant steroid metabolites of estrogen and progesterone in feces of most primates and could be used to evaluate ovarian function. These metabolites were determined along with records of genital swelling throughout 3-4 months period from three female Javan Gibbons (Hylobates moloch) maintained in pairing-typed cage at Schmutzer Primate Center, Jakarta (Ullah) and at Taman Margasatwa Taman Sari, Bandung (Donna and Citah). Following methanolic extraction of lyophilized fecal powder, samples were analyzed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for E1C and PdG. In all of the three females observed, both hormone profiles did not indicate any regular cycle of ovarian function even though genital swellings were sometimes observed. In one female (Donna) the hormone patterns showed clear signs of cycle irregularities with extended luteal phase of 40 days and erratic pattern of follicular phase. Of the other two females, no ovarian cycle was found. The data indicate that the fecal steroids analysis is a practical and valuable diagnostic tool for providing reliable information on ovarian function in Javan Gibbon. Factors affected reproductive hormonal profile should be taken in consideration in trying to achieve success in captive breeding program for this species.

We present a case of intense genital swelling because of a hereditary angioedema. This rare disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute and asymptomatic genital edema, because it may prevent future potentially life-threatening episodes of visceral angioedema.

Previous studies show that anogenital swelling patterns of pregnant chimpanzees in captivity are correlated with the female's age during pregnancy and are associated with changes in social behavior. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the anogenital swelling patterns of free-ranging pregnant chimpanzees resemble those reported for captive chimpanzees. We reviewed the records of 47 pregnancies experienced by 20 female chimpanzees living in Gombe National Park from 1975 to 1992. Percentage scores for swelling during each trimester and for the overall occurrence of various levels of swelling were obtained by dividing the frequency by the total number of days the subject was observed (i.e., 28 days of swelling/165 days observation = 17.2% anogenital swelling for that pregnancy). Subjects exhibited anogenitat swelling an average of 25.1% of the days observed during pregnancy, yet reached maximum only 9.4% of the time. Anogenital swelling occurred less frequently as pregnancy progressed, averaging 40.8, 27.3, and 2.7% in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. As seen in captive chimpanzees, young pregnant females at Gombe showed anogenital swelling more often than did older ones r = -.65, P < .0001), These findings are consistent with reports of behavior associated with anogenital swelling (e.g., intercommunity transfer of young females exhibiting anogenital swelling). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of intense genital swelling because of a hereditary angioedema. This rare disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute and asymptomatic genital edema, because it may prevent future potentially life-threatening episodes of visceral angioedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycle and gestation lengths, menstruation patterns, female genital swelling characteristics, and male-female consortship durations are reported in a semifree-ranging group of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) studied over a 12 year period. In addition, profiles of urinary estrone conjugates (E1C) and immunoreactive pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) throughout four complete menstrual cycles in two females and three full-term pregnancies are presented. Based on intermenstrual intervals, a mean cycle length of 37-41 days (n = 55 cycles in 10 females) was found. Gestation length averaged 173 days (n = 27 pregnancies in eight females). Measurement of PdG immunoreactivity in urine revealed a cyclic pattern with a 5-15-fold increase between follicular and luteal phase concentrations, suggesting that PdG is a reliable indicator of ovarian cyclicity and luteal function. In contrast to PdG, E1C excretion showed no clear pattern throughout the cycle; however, highest values of E1C were usually found shortly before the onset of the luteal phase PdG rise at the presumed time of ovulation. Levels of both hormones were elevated during the first half of gestation and showed a marked increase throughout the second half, with maximum E1C concentrations being up to 100-fold higher than nonpregnant levels. Consortships by the male and occurrence of female genital swelling were long lasting (on average 5-10 days and 13 days, respectively) and were restricted to the follicular phase of the cycle. The day of maximal swelling and day of detumescence as well as the end of male consortship were closely associated with the periovulatory period. Swellings and consortships were longer following lactational ammenorhea than for subsequent cycles. The evolutionary significance of the cyclical changes undergone by females upon their relations with males is discussed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc., (Copyright © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.)

Behavioral observations were made on thirteen female and seven male adult group-living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The behavioral data were analyzed as a function of the day of the females' menstrual cycles to explore the possible interrelationship between genital swelling and sociosexual behavior of female chimpanzees. Copulatory behavior was confined almost entirely to the period of genital swelling and the occurrence of male-to-female genital inspection (both female- and male-initiated) was negatively correlated with the days from swelling onset, i.e., as the presumed day of ovulation approached, genital inspection decreased, while copulatory behavior increased. In addition, more females groomed their male cagemates during the luteal phase than in the follicular phase of their cycles, whereas male-to-female grooming was positively correlated with the progress of the cycle, with peaks during the time of swelling onset and menstruation. The profile of sociosexual behavior observed throughout the menstrual cycle suggested that, although chimpanzees exhibit an extended period of sexual receptivity and genital swelling, the presumed fertile period is not concealed. The role of genital swelling in chimpanzees is discussed in relation to the possible hormonal effect on female sexuality and the evolution of chimpanzee mating strategies. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc., (Copyright © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company.)

Previous reports of increased sexual activity associated with genital swelling during chimpanzee pregnancy have suggested that the tumescent pregnant female may be regarded as a regularly cycling estrous female. Analysis of additional data from seven pregnant and eight cycling females, however, indicated that tumescent pregnant females differed from cycling females in some social interactions with males. As in earlier reports, pregnant females were more receptive to male-initiated copulatory bouts. In addition, pregnant females initiated grooming bouts with males much less frequently than did cycling females, and males spent less time grooming and less frequently inspected the genitals of pregnant than cycling cagemates. This tendency to decrease social interaction during pregnancy is consistent with field reports that pregnant chimpanzees prefer the company of their offspring and other noncycling females. In addition, the genital swelling patterns of 40 chimpanzee pregnancies were analyzed. Length of gestation averaged 231.5 days. Although a high degree of individual variation existed, females were swollen an average of 41% of the days observed, yet reached maximum swelling only 8.7% of the time. Genital swelling was less frequent during the third trimester, averaging 50.5, 47.9, and 22.6% tumescent days in each trimester. Young pregnant females showed maximum swelling more often than did older females. This finding is discussed with respect to field reports of intercommunity transfer of young, tumescent female chimpanzees., (Copyright © 1986 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company.)