Different Vasectomy Reversal Surgical Options

If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, you should be aware that there are different surgical options used to complete the procedure. Vasectomy reversal is complex and detailed, requiring expertise and focus from the surgeon. That’s why it’s important to find a surgeon with the experience and knowledge necessary to choose the right one for you and perform it skillfully. Which procedure will you require, and what will it entail?

The most straightforward type of vasectomy reversal is the vasovasostomy. This is what most men can expect when they go in for a vasectomy reversal. In this procedure, the scar tissue from the vasectomy is removed and the ends above and below the portion that had been blocked are sutured back together. The opening being reconnected is extremely small, between .7 mm and .4 mm in diameter, so extreme skill is required to perform this procedure.

For some men, the time frame since their vasectomy might be so long or the blockage from the vasectomy might be so low that a vasovasostomy is not possible. In these cases, a vasoepididymostomy is performed. This is a much more technically challenging surgery, requiring microsurgical expertise, and only the most experienced, specially-trained surgeons can perform it. In this procedure, the upper end of the vas deferens is connected to a tubule of the epididymis, the structure that connects the testicle to the vas deferens. The opening connected in this procedure is about 1/10^th of the one made for the vasovasostomy, so it’s a much more delicate microsurgery. In addition to the difficulty of the procedure being high, the success rate is lower than that of the vasovasostomy. For these reasons, this procedure is only done if absolutely necessary.

There is a third done for men who have had a vasectomy and now wish to father a child. It’s called microscopic epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA), and it’s only an option for those couples who are choosing to undergo in vitro fertilization. Sperm aspiration, like the two kinds of vasectomy reversal, is done using an operating microscope. This enables the surgeon to successfully obtain sperm directly from the epididymis without contamination from blood and bodily fluids. Using the operating microscope, the surgeon is able to see the epididymal tubules clearly, so the success rates are extremely high and there’s very little risk of damaging adjacent structures.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we pride ourselves on providing optimal surgical results and uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Keep your Children Safe on Halloween During the COVID Pandemic

2020 has been quite a year! If you’re like many of us, you’ve probably got mixed emotions about the upcoming holiday season. On the one hand, it would be great to get back to a sense of normalcy, embracing well-loved traditions despite the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, what’s safe? As Halloween approaches, many parents are wondering how their kids can safely celebrate this festive holiday.

So, is trick-or-treating safe in 2020? If you think of all the ways Halloween is typically celebrated, with dances, parties, hayrides, and carnivals, trick-or-treating seems like a more manageable activity. It’s outside, and it’s relatively easy to stay socially distant from other kids. If you’re in a quiet neighborhood, trick-or-treating might be the way to go.

Infection disease specialists, however, urge caution. Especially if you live where community spread is still high, trick-or-treating may not be a good idea. If you’re in an area where the prevalence of COVID-19 is low, it’s still wise to be aware of potential dangers. What are the riskiest elements of trick-or-treating this year?

• Being in a large group.: Trick-or-treating in a group of friends may not be the best idea, because being close to people from another household and spending several hours together brings a risk of virus transmission. If your kids have their hearts set on trick-or-treating with their friends, limit it to 3-4 kids from families who have been social distancing.
• Face-to-face exposure at neighbor’s doors: Walking to a door, knocking, saying “trick or treat?”, taking some candy, and leaving doesn’t involve a lot of face to face time, it’s true. But even though it may not seem risky, the more households you visit, the more exposure you have, especially since other kids are lingering on the same doorsteps.
• Touching things: This is the least concerning factor- just use hand sanitizer frequently and wash hands when you get home. There’s little risk of infection from candy wrappers, but to be extra careful, set aside most of the candy for 3 days before eating it.

The CDC advises that staying home may be best this year, celebrating Halloween by decorating your house, carving pumpkins, having a movie night, or maybe hosting a virtual costume contest. If you’re handing out candy, wear a mask or consider placing individually bagged treats on the porch. If you do decide to trick or treat, though, incorporate face masks into the costumes, don’t let kids share props or toys, and talk to your kids about not touching too many things or digging around in candy bowls.

At Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping to create healthy, happy families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Fun and Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for your Infant

Halloween is so much fun when you have small kids! While it’s great to get to take kids trick or treating and watch them enjoy the holiday, there’s also something to be said for picking out a costume for a child too little to care. You get the thrill of seeing your cute baby in a costume, and no one stands in the way of your vision with different ideas for how they’d like to dress. It’s an all-around win! Do you need inspiration? Check out these cute, fun, and easy Halloween costumes for your infant.

• Max from “Where the Wild Things Are”: In the book, Max wears a wolf suit, but if you don’t have a wolf suit, attaching a tail to some pajamas will suffice! Top it off with a paper crown, and you’re good to go. Bonus points if your little one totes a stuffed monster.
• Baby Chicken: A onesie, some leggings, a cap, and felt sheets are all that’s required to turn your baby into a charming fowl. Just cut feathers out of felt, affix them to the onesie with hot glue, cut out a “comb” to glue to the cap, and voila! Instant baby chicken.
• Bookworm: All you’ll need for a fun Halloween photo op is a stretchy green hat, a green swaddle blanket or sleep sack, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and a headband, glasses, and some books. Make the pipe cleaners into antennae, twisting two pieces together and gluing pom poms to the ends. Taking care to get rid of any sharp points, twist them around the headband. Wrap baby in the swaddler or sleep sack, put the hat on under the headband to protect a sensitive head, and put the baby near the books. Whether the glasses rest on the books or go on the baby is your call, but realistically, they may only last on baby’s face for one quick photo.
• Carrot Baby: A snuggly orange wrap and a matching orange cap are all you need to turn your newborn into the cutest carrot in the garden! Just attach some green felt to the cap to make the carrot top.
• Baby Bob Ross: A big curly wig, blue shirt and pants, and a nearby artist’s palette with brushes is all it will take to transform your baby into this beloved painter and have your friends giggling about happy trees every time they see the photo.

The Center for Vasectomy Reversal loves to celebrate holidays and milestones with healthy, happy families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Healthy Food Ideas for Your Pregnant Partner

A healthy diet is always important, but it’s never more important than during pregnancy. When the foods eaten are nourishing a growing baby, they must be nutrient dense. Sometimes, the mom-to-be doesn’t have much of an appetite, and that’s even more reason to make every bite count. While it’s ok for her to sometimes treat herself to yummy, empty calories, her diet needs to be loaded with foods that pack a nutritional punch.

• Dairy products provide protein and calcium. Yogurt is a great dairy option, as long as it’s not full of sugar. Try plain yogurt with a drizzle of honey or fresh fruit, or incorporate yogurt into dips and dressings.
• Legumes, especially lentils, are a great source of protein and other nutrients. They contain folate, iron, and fiber, among other nutrients, and can be eaten in salads, soups, and stews.
• Sweet potatoes are amazingly nutritious. One sweet potato has more than 400 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin A, which is crucial in the first trimester. They’re easy to eat, baked or sliced and roasted into oven fries.
• Salmon, especially wild salmon, is one of the best foods to eat during pregnancy. It’s got omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, and it’s a safe seafood choice for pregnancy. Roasted salmon filets over greens or rice, served with a sweet potato and steamed vegetables, make the perfect meal.
• Eggs are inexpensive, easy to cook, and packed with nutrients. They’re a good source of protein, and contain choline, which helps brain development, and vitamin D. There are tons of ways to eat eggs, just make sure you cook them thoroughly.
• Lean meat provides protein and iron. It helps the baby grow and keeps the mom from feeling hungry. Small amounts are sufficient, so toss meat into soups, noodle dishes and salads.
• Berries are delicious and nutritious. They’ve got carbs, vitamin C and other vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, and they help increase water intake. Eat them plain or toss them in smoothies or salads!
• Broccoli and leafy greens contain many important nutrients. Kale, for example, has folate, iron, vitamins C, A, E, and K, calcium, and fiber. Toss greens into a smoothie, cook them with pasta, pile them on a sandwich, or scramble them up with some eggs.
• Avocadoes are creamy, rich, and are an important source of monounsaturated fatty acids. They’ve also got folate, vitamin B6, fiber, and potassium. They’re good for leg cramps, promote healthy tissue and brain growth in the developing baby, and may even ease morning sickness. They’re great in guacamole, sandwiches, salads, omelets, and on their own.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping couples grow their happy, healthy families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Reasons Why Men Get Vasectomy Reversals

As many as 500,000 vasectomies are performed in the United States each year, making it a fairly common procedure. It’s not surprising that the numbers would be high, since a vasectomy is a simple outpatient procedure. Interestingly, between six and ten percent of men who opt for a vasectomy later change their minds and have the vasectomy reversed. Why do men get vasectomy reversals? And are those reversals successful?

The reasons for a vasectomy reversal are personal and varied. Maybe the man thought he didn’t want children, or didn’t want any more children, but then he met a new partner and changed his mind. Maybe he and his wife had a child and decided they didn’t want any more, but then that child died, and the loss prompted them to try for another. Maybe the family’s financial resources have increased and having a new family member seems more doable. On the other hand, some men choose vasectomy reversals because the vasectomy has caused pain and other negative symptoms. In that case, regardless of whether or not he wants children, a man might have a vasectomy reversal to alleviate pain.

Most vasectomies are reversible. In fact, vasectomies can be reversed up to 20 years after the initial procedure. It should be noted, however, that the longer a man waits for a vasectomy reversal, the lower the chances are that the procedure will be successful. In general, vasectomy reversals are most likely to be successful if they’re performed by a surgeon trained in microsurgical techniques and the use of a surgical microscope. The chances of success are also increased when the surgeon has done the procedure many times and does it regularly.

There are two types of vasectomy reversals. The simplest and most common is called a vasovasostomy. The surgeon, using a surgical microscope, reconnects the sides of the vas deferens, which was severed in the vasectomy. Sometimes, however, this procedure isn’t possible. In that case, a vasoepididymostomy is performed, in which the vas deferens is connected to the epididymis, the area above the testes where the sperm is stored. In most cases, the vasovasostomy is the more successful of these two procedures.

Of course, a successful vasectomy reversal does not always result in the successful conception of a child. Many other factors come into play when trying to achieve a pregnancy, including the type of procedure and the age and fertility of the man’s partner. After a vasectomy reversal, pregnancy rates range from about 30 to over 90 percent.

If you’re interested in reversing your vasectomy and you’re looking for an experienced professional surgical team, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here for you. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Prepare your Home and Surroundings for your Baby’s Arrival

Whether you’re expecting your first baby or adding to your growing family, preparing for the new arrival is exciting. It can also be a little bit overwhelming, as you try to think about everything you might need and everything you need to do. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered, with this list of helpful tips.

• Deep clean before the baby comes. Now is the time to do this, before you’re busy with a newborn. Either deep clean on your own or hire someone else to do it. Consider steam cleaning your floors, to remove dirt and germs without chemicals. Don’t hesitate to hire help with cleaning after the baby arrives.
• Know your limits. Some tasks are not good for a pregnant woman to do. Avoid moving furniture or doing other extremely strenuous tasks, and delegate the cleaning of the cat box to someone else.
• Set yourself up for success post-baby. Create space beside your front door and insist that people remove their shoes when they enter your home. Get a separate hamper for the nursery. Stash cleaning wipes near hotspots like doorknobs and faucet handles, so it’s easy to keep them germ free. Establish cleaning routines that can be easily and quickly implemented by anyone helping you.
• Do a thorough safety check. Your baby will become mobile more quickly than you can possibly imagine. Now, before the baby arrives, remove possible hazards and secure dangerous items. Store medicine out of reach and out of sight, and securely lock your cabinets. Magnetic locks work well on nearly every type of cabinet, allowing you to keep little ones safe without pinching your fingers. IF you have firearms in your house, remove and lock ammunition and lock it away in a place separate from the gun. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or check to make sure yours are working properly.
• Clear some room in your fridge. You’ll need to make room to store bottles of formula or breastmilk. Also, people will probably bring casseroles and meals to help you out after your new little one arrives, and you should make sure there’s space for that. It’s also not a bad idea to throw out anything on the verge of going bad and give your refrigerator a good cleaning before you have the baby.
• Get ready for visitors. Will someone be coming to stay and help after the baby arrives? Take some time now to make sure you’ve got everything an overnight guest will need. Change the sheets in your guest room and buy extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Help your Body Heal Faster After Having a Vasectomy Reversal Procedure

A vasectomy reversal is a safe, outpatient procedure with a high success rate. However, as with any surgical procedure, patients who undergo vasectomy reversal need to take care afterward, to help their bodies heal. Full healing can take several weeks, and it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions for aftercare. Here are some tips on how to help your recovery go smoothly.

• First, commit to at least a week of rest. Try to take off work, and just spend the week relaxing. If you can’t fully stop working, it’s ok to take calls and emails while resting on a sofa. Your everyday activities should be limited. You can get yourself a drink, for instance, or make a snack like toast, but avoid cooking full meals. You can drive, but don’t lift anything. You absolutely cannot go to the gym.
• Be aware that it may take more than a week. Especially if you have a physically demanding job, you’ll need to take two weeks off work. In fact, with any job other than a desk job, it’s better to take the full two weeks. After four or five weeks you should be essentially back to normal, though you should still try to avoid heavy lifting.
• You won’t be able to exercise for a month. Your body needs rest to recover, so you should not do any exercise beyond walking for the first month after your operation. Even though it’s a fairly gentle exercise, swimming is not advised. This is because chlorine can damage open or newly healed wounds.
• Postpone sex for no fewer than two weeks, and preferably longer. Some patients can resume intercourse after two to three weeks, but for most, it’s better to wait a little longer. After four or five weeks, most patients can comfortably have sex again. It’s crucial not to rush things, because you can undo your surgery, and then you’ll have to go through the whole process again.
• The right diet can promote healing. Eating nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables, eggs, healthy fats, and protein-rich foods can help your body recover more quickly.
• It can take several months for pregnancy to be possible after vasectomy reversal. After six weeks, the doctor will perform a semen analysis to see if sperm has successfully returned to the ejaculate. By about three months, men typically have viable sperm. However, it may not be possible to achieve pregnancy for several months, so it’s important to be patient.

If you’ve changed your mind about the size of your family and you’re interested in reversing your vasectomy, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal can help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month? It was so designated to bring awareness to childhood cancer, which is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States under 14. It’s also a time to honor those with pediatric cancer, as we continue to search for a cure.

• At least 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Because of advances in treatment, more than 80% of those children survive their cancer. In fact, there are about 420,000 adults in the United States who are childhood cancer survivors.
• What causes pediatric cancer? Childhood cancer causes aren’t fully understood. The common theory is that cancer-causing genetic changes occur by chance. In about 8% of cases, babies are born with genetic risk factors.
• Cancers that develop in children are different than those found in adults. Though in some rare cases children can develop cancers normally seen in adults, the most common childhood cancers are:
  • Leukemia: The most common childhood cancer, accounting for about 34% of cases. Typically occurs between 2 and 4, more commonly in males.
  • Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: Spinal cord tumors are rare; brain tumors typically start in the lower parts of the brain.
  • Neuroblastoma: Typically starts younger than 5 years old.
  • Wilms Tumor: Usually found in very young children, uncommon over age 6.
  • Lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma is rare in children younger than 5, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common, but rare under 3.
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma: Affects skeletal muscles, commonly in kids under 5.
  • Retinoblastoma: Eye cancer, generally diagnosed before age 3.
  • Bone Cancer: Usually occurs in teens.
• Symptoms of childhood cancers are often overlooked. Cancer’s early warning signs can be masked by common illnesses or everyday bumps and bruises. It’s crucial for parents to be aware of the warning signs and remain vigilant for signs of childhood cancer, which include:
  • Leukemia: Bone and joint pain, fatigue, weakness, bleeding, fever, and weight loss.
  • Brain Tumors: Headaches, dizziness, balance problems, vision, hearing, or speech problems, frequent vomiting.
  • Neuroblastoma: Impaired ability to walk, changes in eyes, including bulging, dark circles, and droopy eyelids, pain in different parts of the body, diarrhea, and high blood pressure.
  • Wilm’s Tumor: Swelling or lump in the belly, fever, pain, nausea, poor appetite.
  • Lymphoma: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin, or armpit, weight loss, fever, sweats, and weakness.
  • Bone Cancer: Bone pain, often growing worse at night or with activity, swelling.

If you’re planning to have kids, it’s important to know how to spot signs of cancer in children. At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Prepare For your Vasectomy Reversal

If you’re having a vasectomy reversal, it’s normal to feel some anxiety before the procedure. Any type of surgery can be intimidating, and vasectomy is certainly a serious undertaking. The procedure itself, however, is quite safe. It’s performed in an outpatient setting and has a high success rate. There are some things you can do to prepare for your vasectomy reversal that will help the entire process go more smoothly.

• Shake off the nerves. Trust your medical team and trust yourself. You’ve made an educated decision, choosing a reliable and experienced surgeon, and you can be confident in the choice you’ve made. Learn as much as you can about the procedure ahead of time, prepare yourself and your home for your recovery, and then rest in the knowledge that you’re in good hands.
• Watch what you put into your body. Stop smoking at least six weeks before your surgery, and don’t smoke for at least a month after the procedure. Better yet, don’t smoke at all! Avoid alcohol for a week before surgery, and steer clear of medications like aspirin for 48 hours before your procedure. Your doctor will advise you of any other medications to avoid, but the general rule is to stop taking blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medication. You will need to abstain from food and drink from midnight the night before your surgery. Don’t even chew gum, because this can stimulate gastric acids.
• Prepare your body for surgery. Take a shower the night before your surgery. You should also shave the area where you’ll have surgery, either the night before or the morning of your surgery. This includes the full area of the scrotal sac, extending to the groin areas on either side, but not the pubic area above the penis.
• Make preparations for your recovery. Enlist someone’s help getting to and from the clinic, because you won’t be able to drive for 48 hours after the surgery. Arrange time off work, because you’ll need at least a week to rest and recuperate. Make sure your home is in order, and that you have everything you’ll need in easy reach of the place where you plan to rest after surgery. Have a compassionate support system in place, so that you’ll know someone will be there to help care for you during the time that you need to take it easy and heal.

If you’re interested in reversing your vasectomy and you’re looking for an experienced professional surgical team, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here for you. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Protect Your Baby from COVID19

COVID-19 has made this year frightening. We know that for adults to say safe, socially distancing and wearing face coverings are important. We agonize over whether to send children back to school, wondering if they’ll be able to understand the need to stay away from others. But what about babies and toddlers? How can you protect little ones from COVID-19?

• First, let’s address face coverings. People over age two are advised to wear a face covering or mask when in public. As you probably know, this is primarily to protect other people. Wearing a mask even if you don’t suspect you have the virus can help keep those around you from getting it. Obviously, this applies to small children as well; when they’re surrounded by adults wearing masks, they’re protected from infection.
• But why shouldn’t toddlers themselves wear masks? First, their smaller airways make it harder for them to breathe through cloth. Additionally, masks can have strings and elastic pieces that could cause a young child to choke. Finally, little children are likely to try to remove the mask, which will lead to a lot of face touching, and this can spread the virus.
• Can kids even get infected with COVID-19? While most cases occur in adults, children can be infected. For most kids, the virus causes a mild illness, and in some there are no symptoms at all. However, some babies and children have gotten very sick from the virus, so while you can’t protect them by having them wear masks, it’s important to protect little children in other ways.
• Some basic safety measures can help keep the virus at bay.
  • Keep your family at home and away from others as much as possible, only going out when it’s necessary.
  • Whether you’re at home or out and about, avoid people who are sick.
  • Wash your hands well and often and teach others in your family to do the same. Wash your hands thoroughly when you go into your home after being out, before handling your child, and before feeding your baby.
  • Try not to touch your face.
  • Clean all surfaces that people touch a lot, like doorknobs, cellphones, and countertops.
  • If you’re sick, wear a face covering at home, limit contact with your child, and sneeze or cough into a tissue rather than your hands.
  • When your baby is in an infant carrier, place a blanket over the carrier while it’s in your view, making sure the blanket doesn’t touch the baby. Wipe down your stroller or carrier when you get home.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.