• The Risks, Results, and Success Rates of Vasectomy Reversals

    If you have had a vasectomy and now regret it, you may wonder if you can have it reversed. The good news is that vasectomy reversals have come a long way, and it’s very possible to have a successful reversal. The bad news? The surgery can be far more complicated than a vasectomy.  

    • How is the procedure performed? Because a vasectomy involves severing or blocking the tubes that carry sperm from your testes to your penis, a vasectomy reversal is done by rejoining them. This is done using microsurgery, either to sew the ends of these tubes (vas deferens) back together, in a procedure called vasovasostomy, or to attach the ends of tubes to the small organ at the back of the testicle that holds sperm. This is called a vasoepididymostomy, and it’s a much more difficult procedure, used only if for some reason you can’t have a vasovasostomy or your doctor believes it won’t work for you. Sometimes, it’s necessary for a doctor to perform a combination of these two procedures.  
    • How major of a procedure is it? A vasectomy reversal is either performed in a hospital or a clinic, typically under general anesthesia. It takes between two to four hours, and the patient can usually go home the same day. Patients with desk jobs can usually return to work in a couple of days, while those who do physical labor or have a job that involves excessive walking or driving may need to wait a while longer.  
    • What are the risks? It’s rare to experience any serious complications from a vasectomy reversal, but there are a few risks. Sometimes, bleeding within the scrotum leads to a collection of blood called a hematoma, which can be painful. Rarely, patients experience chronic pain after a vasectomy reversal or contract an infection that requires antibiotics. The best way to reduce the risks of complications is to follow your doctor’s instructions exactly.  
    • How soon will you know the results of the procedure? Your doctor will collect semen samples from you for about four to six months, and examine them to check for the reappearance of sperm. For patients who undergo a vasovasostomy, it can take as long as six to twelve months for sperm to reappear, while those who have a vasoepididymostomy may have to wait more than a year.  
    • What’s the success rate for vasectomy reversals? That’s another piece of good news. Up to 90 percent of vasectomy reversals are successful. Of course, the ability to conceive a child involves many factors, and pregnancy rates after vasectomy vary widely, ranging from 30 to 90 percent. Sometimes patients decide to have some sperm frozen prior to the procedure, in case it’s unsuccessful. That way, even if they are unable to conceive through intercourse, they may be able to use assistive reproductive technology to father children.  

    If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our caring and skilled team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and we also offer a payment plan option for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just have questions and want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.  

  • Should Men Take Pre-Natal Vitamins?

    When you’re trying to conceive, it’s extremely important to take care of your health. A woman who is trying to get pregnant will work to stay at a healthy weight, watch her diet, stop drinking and smoking, and take prenatal vitamins, to make sure she gives her potential baby the very best start possible. But what about the potential father? Men can also take steps to improve their fertility, including taking prenatal vitamins. 

    Many of the things men can do to up their chances of fathering a child are the same things that women do when they’re trying to conceive. Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and eating a healthful diet are all good steps to take, as are getting enough sleep and reducing stress. Additionally, men who want to procreate should not wear constrictive underwear or take long soaks in the bath or hot tub.  

    Why take all of these measures? A man’s age, diet, and lifestyle can have an effect on his sperm health, which has an impact on fertility but also on the child’s development and long-term health. A newborn’s predisposition for chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease can result from poor behavior or health of the mother or father before they even conceive. Three to six months prior to conception is a great time to improve your lifestyle, and that includes taking a prenatal vitamin.  

    The best prenatal vitamin for a man to take is not the same as a woman’s prenatal vitamin because some of the nutrients in prenatal vitamins can cause problems for men. It’s advised that men take a multivitamin formulated for adults or specifically for men, rather than taking a prenatal vitamin formulated for a woman. Men need nutrients like calcium and iron, which are in prenatal vitamins, but not at the doses those vitamins contain. In fact, too much calcium has been linked to cardiovascular disease in men, and too much iron can lead to a host of issues, including gastrointestinal problems, liver problems, and dangerously low blood pressure. What’s more, prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, which is important for women to take to prevent birth defects, but which has been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Before taking any kind of supplement, it’s smart to talk to your doctor and get a recommendation for the right formulation for you.  

    One major roadblock to a man’s fertility is a vasectomy, but even that can be overcome with new microsurgery techniques for reconnecting the vas deferens. If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our caring and skilled team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and we also offer a payment plan option for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just have questions and want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.  

  • Popular Fertility Apps

    Fertility has been an issue for as long as there have been people, but with the modern age comes new ways of managing it: there’s an app for that. In fact, there are so many fertility apps out there, helping people track fertility and understand their own biology, that it can be hard to know which one to use. Here, we narrow it down to the top apps of the year, each available on both iPhone and Android, based on their consistency, reliability, useful content, and reviews.  

    • Clue: Rated 4.8 stars for both Android and iPhone, this app tracks periods and ovulation. Women can log their periods and basal body temperature, and Clue will make predictions about ovulation and fertility. It’s free but does have some in-app purchases.  
    • Flo: This period and ovulation tracker rates 4.9 stars on both iPhone and Android. It’s free with in-app purchases and features reliable fertility and ovulation calendars. It will also notify you when it’s a favorable day to conceive, in addition to tracking your cycle, period, and PMS symptoms and presenting the data in chart form. 
    • Glow: This cycle and fertility tracker has a rating of 4.7 stars on iPhone and 4.6 on Android, and it’s free with in-app purchases. Using Glow, you can track your cycle as well as recording symptoms, sexual activity, and day to day moods. Using information about your cycle and symptoms, as well as an ovulation calculator, you’ll be able to optimize your chances of conception. 
    • Fertility Friend: With a 4.8-star rating on iPhone, and a 4.5 on Android, this apps features an advanced ovulation calendar and period tracker to help you understand your fertility. Using your data, the app creates a personalized fertility chart with helpful advice on trying to conceive. It also alerts you on your ovulation days. It’s free, with some in-app purchases. 
    • Ovia: This free app rates 4.8 stars on both iPhone and Android, and accurately predicts periods and fertile windows, using a unique algorithm. It allows you to check trends and insight on customized fertility charts and also provides health summaries and statistics about your cycle length, period length, symptoms, intercourse days, and more.  
    • Natural Cycles: This is an intelligent birth control app that predicts ovulation by analyzing basal body temperature. It’s free with in-app purchases, has a rating of 4.8 stars on iPhone and 4.6 on Android, and gives daily updates about your cycle and fertility.  
    • Kindara: This app was one of the first digital fertility charting systems. While not rated as highly as some of the others- 4.6 on iPhone and 3.9 on Android- Kindara is known for extremely accurate ovulation prediction, and it’s the only app with Wink, a wireless basal body temperature thermometer. If you’re charting, Wink is a great way to do it with very little hassle.  
    • Dot: Free with in-app purchases and rated 4.8 on iPhone and 4.4 stars on Android, Dot uses period start dates and an advanced algorithm to predict your chances of pregnancy on every day of your cycle. The more you use it, the more accurate it becomes, because of ongoing statistical analysis.  

    One major roadblock to a man’s fertility is a vasectomy, but even that can be overcome with new microsurgery techniques for reconnecting the vas deferens. If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our caring and skilled team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and we also offer a payment plan option for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just have questions and want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.  

     

  • Advice Every Dad Should Know

    Are you about to become a first–time dad? How exciting! If you’re like most dads, you probably want to know everything possible about being a father, so that you can be ready for your new little one. You may have been reading parenting books and surfing the net to gather all the information you can, but when it comes right down to it, advice from real dads is the best way to go. Here, you’ll find some words of wisdom from experienced fathers, given to help you be the best dad you can be.  

    • Read, read, read! Even before your child is old enough to understand, read to him or her. Listening to someone reading helps a child develop listening skills and, eventually, verbal skills and a love of reading. What’s more, the time you spend reading to your child is precious and will help you to bond.  
    • Never say you’re babysitting your child. This is a thing that many dads say, but it’s inaccurate. When mom is with her child, she’s parenting, and the same goes for a dad caring for his child.  
    • Man up and change diapers. Ultimately, it’s not really a big deal. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s important for you to do your fair share.  
    • Realize that for the first few months, you’ll be a supporting player in your home life. The mom and the baby will take center stage for a while, and you’ll need to ease the stress on your partner by doing everything you can to keep the household running smoothly.  
    • Make the most of the hospital stay. Even if your partner says she’s ready to get out of there and head home, encourage a second night. The nurses can help you, and you’ll be able to get some rest before handling all the middle of the night feedings and new parent anxiety on your own.  
    • Appreciate good help. A good babysitter is invaluable, so take your time finding one, and then stick with that person. 
    • Don’t worry if you don’t fall in love at first sight with your new baby. Not everyone is into newborns, and some parents find that it takes a little while to form that strong connection.  
    • Skip the buttons. Baby clothes with buttons may be oh so cute, but all those tiny buttons are a pain. Go for zippers or even Velcro to make your life easier.  
    • Sing to your baby, and find a song to be “your song.” It can be a nursery rhyme or just a favorite song of yours, but when you sing it to your baby often enough for it to become familiar, it can distract and soothe them.  
    • Step up without being asked. Your partner will appreciate it if you take the initiative to do the things that need to be done, without constantly asking for permission. Don’t worry, taking care of a baby is easier than you think; they’re not made of glass.  
    • Routines are the key to a smooth home life. Eating, napping, going to bed at night, waking- all of these things need to be on a schedule. At first, it may feel like you’re being too rigid, but kids thrive on routine and it will make your life less stressful.  
    • Don’t use your job as an excuse to slack off at home. If your significant other stays home with the baby while you work a full-time job, it does not absolve you from child-related responsibilities after work. Being at home all day with a baby is exhausting, and help from the other parent is extremely important.  
    • Take tons of pictures. They don’t have to be high-quality shots, but the pictures you take will help you remember this time with your baby. Babies grow and change quickly, and the days are so hectic that it’s easy to forget things if you don’t take photos.  
    • Remember one thing: the days are long, but the years are short. Try to live in the moment as much as you can, because even though this time is exhausting, you’ll be astonished at how quickly it flies by. When you take the time to appreciate your child as he or she grows into a person, you’ll have those memories to cherish later.  

    When you’re ready to become a dad, don’t let a vasectomy stand in your way. If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our caring and skilled team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and we also offer a payment plan option for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just have questions and want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.