Inflammation anywhere in your body is cause for concern, but when it affects your testicles, you may be understandably anxious. It’s called epididymitis, and here’s how it develops, how to recognize the symptoms, and what we can do about it.
In the world of birth control, the options have largely rested on the shoulders of women, which makes sense given that they do the heavy lifting when it comes to bringing a child into the world. That said, men are taking matters into their own hands through vasectomies, with over half a million procedures performed each year in the United States.
As a urologist who specializes in men’s health, Dr. Robert J. Cornell offers this simple procedure to his patients in the downtown Houston area, allowing them to take control of family planning.
If you’d like to explore whether a vasectomy is right for you, here’s what you should know.
The premise behind a vasectomy is fairly simple: Stop your sperm from reaching and fertilizing an egg. To do this, we perform an in-office procedure in which we clip the two tubes, called your vas deferens, which deliver sperm from your testicles into your semen. The first thing you should know about our vasectomy services is that Dr. Cornell uses a no-scalpel technique. Instead, he makes a very tiny hole in your scrotum through which he’s able to access and clip off your vas deferens.
Dr. Cornell performs a vasectomy in mere minutes, and he uses a local anesthetic for your comfort. Afterward, you’re free to go home, but you should plan on taking it easy for a day or two while the small wound heals.
When it comes to birth control for men, the only foolproof method is abstinence, which offers a perfect 100% protection rate. But there are a few options that come awfully close to complete protection, and a vasectomy tops the list. With a 99.8% efficacy rate, it’s hard to argue that a vasectomy isn’t effective.
It should be noted that after your procedure you should still use other birth control methods for three months. At that time, we test you to confirm that your semen doesn’t carry any sperm, but don’t rely on your vasectomy until we give you this green light.
One of the first things our patients usually ask is whether a vasectomy will have any effect on their sexual performance. The answer to this is an emphatic “No.” All we’re doing is cutting off the supply of sperm. You’ll still be able to get an erection and ejaculate semen, and your testicles will continue to produce testosterone, keeping your libido intact.
Getting a vasectomy is a very personal decision, and our goal here is to arm you with the facts so that you can make an informed decision. One of the first things you need to consider is that a vasectomy should be considered a permanent procedure. While we can perform a more complex surgery to reconnect your vas deferens, we’d rather that you consider it a one-time process that ends your ability to impregnate a woman.
There are many reasons why men choose to undergo a vasectomy, and you’re sure to have your own if you’re considering the procedure. In some cases, couples have decided that their families are complete, or in other cases it may simply be a lifestyle choice of your own. We’re not here to advise you whether or not you should have a vasectomy, we’re here to tell you that you can, and that we can do it, and it’s fairly easy.
If you have any more questions about a vasectomy, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Or you can use the online booking tool found on this website to set up a consultation.
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