Tag: St. Petersburg

What happens during a vasectomy procedure and how does it work?

Vasectomy is considered a permanent birth control method because it prevents the release of sperm during ejaculation. During a vasectomy, the tube (vas deferens) from each testicle is carefully clamped, sealed or cut to prevent the mixing of sperm with ejaculated semen. The testicles will continue to produce sperm but the female egg cannot be fertilized without sperm in the semen. Since the tubes are sealed off before the seminal vesicles and prostate, a man will still ejaculate the same amount of fluid.

So what happens during a vasectomy?

(a) The testicles and scrotum are first cleaned with antiseptic and may be shaved.
(b) You may be given an intravenous (IV) or oral medicine to minimize anxiety and make you sleepy. If given the medicine, you may not remember much of what happens during the procedure.
(c) The urologist will locate each vas deferens by touch and then inject a local anesthetic into the area.
(d) The doctor will make 1 or 2 small openings on the scrotum. Then through an opening, the 2 vas deferens tubes are cut, tied and stitched, or sealed. Scar tissue from the operation will help block the tubes.
(e) The urologist will then replace the vas deferens inside the scrotum and close the skin with stitches that dissolve on their own. A vasectomy procedure takes 10-30 minutes and can be done in a clinic or office of a urologist, general surgeon or family medicine doctor.

How does vasectomy work?

The scrotum will be numb for 1 to 2 hours after the surgery. You are expected to apply cold packs to the area and get as much rest as possible while lying on your back. Wearing a jockstrap or snug underwear will protect the area and ease the discomfort. You may experience minor pain and swelling for a few days, but rarely anything more serious. After two days you can resume light work, but must wait for at least a week for heavy lifting and strenuous work.

While you can resume sexual intercourse as soon as you feel comfortable, waiting for a week is advisable. Remember, your sperm count will not be zero and you can still get your partner pregnant, so use an alternative birth control method such as condoms until follow-up sperm count tests show no sperm in the semen, usually two months after the procedure.

Vasectomies are 99.85% effective, with only 1 or 2 women in 1000 getting pregnant after their partners have undergone the procedure. It will not interfere with your sex drive, sensation of orgasm, ability to ejaculate or ability to have erections. However, it is a permanent birth control method that must only be considered by those who do not want to have children in the future. For more information on vasectomies, visit St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.

3 Main Causes of Erectile Dysfunction and Treatment Options

Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man is incapable of having an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. While occasional inability to have an erection is considered normal, frequent or prolonged difficulty to get or keep an erection, along with reduced sexual desire, is classified as erectile dysfunction. The condition often leads to an unsatisfactory sex life and may result in other problems such as low self-esteem, embarrassment, anxiety, depression and relationship problems.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is caused by physiological (physical) factors, psychological (mental) factors, or a combination of both. Generally, psychological problems are more likely to cause ED in younger men while physical problems are often the cause in older men.

The major psychological causes of ED are:

1. Depression

2. Stress at work or home

3. Worries about sexual performance with a new sexual partner or new situation

4. Unresolved relationship conflicts

5. Fatigue

6. Temporary issues such as loss of a job, studying for exams or financial concerns

7. Deep-rooted negative attitudes about sex, intimacy, or strict religious beliefs

8. History of sexual abuse

For a man to have a normal functioning erection, it helps to have self-confidence and arousing behavior or thoughts while being free of anxiety. If at least one of these conditions is chronically absent, a man’s inability to perform sexually can become a lasting issue.

The major physiological causes of ED are:

1. Diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, chronic alcoholism, neurological disease, and vascular disease.

2. Drugs for treating hypertension (high blood pressure), depression, anxiety and psychosis, and regular consumption of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes and other recreational drugs.

3. Injuries such as spinal cord injury and nervous system injury (like pinched nerves due to slipped vertebral discs).

4. Atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries due to a buildup of fat/cholesterol deposits inside arterial walls).

5. Hormonal imbalances such as low testosterone levels or due to diseases of the pituitary, adrenal or thyroid gland.

6. Cigarette smoking.

The main risk factors for erectile dysfunction are:

1. Age over 50

2. Lack of exercise

3. Diabetes (high blood sugar)

4. High cholesterol

5. High blood pressure

6. Smoking

7. Obesity

8. Cardiovascular disease

9. Drug and alcohol abuse

10. Cancer radiation therapy

11. Prostate surgery

12. Medicines such as antihistamines, antidepressants and blood pressure drugs.

Men spending a lot of time bicycling are also at risk of ED because bicycle seats can damage the nerves and blood vessels involved in erections.

Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction

The treatment for erectile dysfunction depends on the cause. Often, the urologist will suggest a change of certain habits or recommend that you stop smoking, using drugs or stop alcohol use. The urologist may also recommend treatments for emotional problems, depression, performance anxiety or relationship conflicts.

The most common treatments for ED are:

1. Oral medications (erection pills) such as Cialis (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Stendra (avanafil) and Viagra (sildenafil).

2. Counseling and psychotherapy if your ED is related to psychological problems.

3. Injection of drugs in the penis: If oral medications fail, the urologist may recommend the injection of Caverject (alprostadil) in the penis. Suppositories of the same drug may also be placed in the urethra as an alternative to injection.

4. Vacuum erection devices: These devices create a low-pressure vacuum around erectile tissue, resulting in erection.

5. Testosterone replacement therapy may be recommended for a man with below-normal testosterone hormone.

6. Surgery: Surgery is usually recommended by a urologist when other treatments fail to improve the ED. The operation is performed to either fix blood vessel issues or for penile implants (like inserting penile prostheses, bendable implants or inflatable implants).

7. Penile arterial revascularization: A surgery for men under 45 years of age who have pelvic or penile injuries, helping to fix blocked or injured blood vessels in the penis.

8. Venous ligation surgery: Aimed at improving the firmness of the penis, this surgery corrects leaky penile vessels that cause softening of the penis during an erection. This technique is rarely used for correcting ED due to its low success rate of around 5%.

Are you having difficulties with sexual performance? Talking with an experienced urologist at St Pete Urology might help you solve the problem. For more information on dealing with erectile dysfunction, visit the website of St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.

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Debunking 4 Myths about Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is an embarrassing condition affecting more than 200 million people globally. Characterized by bladder leakage, painful urination, strong urge to urinate and incomplete emptying of the bladder, the condition can negatively impact the quality of life of affected individuals by restricting their ability to participate in various activities. Riddled with several misconceptions and accompanied by considerable stigma, bladder leakage is a highly misunderstood condition that even those affected do not want to talk about. Yet by debunking some of the myths associated with the condition and establishing a clearer understanding of the problem, affected individuals can get on the right track for healthy and happy bladder management. Here are four of the more common myths about urinary incontinence:

Myth 1: Only the elderly experience urinary incontinence.

Even though the risk of urinary incontinence increases with age, virtually any person can experience incontinence at any stage of life. For instance, bladder weakness typically affects 1 in every 3 women above the age of 18 with many young women experiencing sensitive bladder symptoms after pregnancy and labor. Urinary incontinence can also result from an enlarged prostate, nerve damage, weakened pelvic muscles, medical conditions such as obesity, onset of menopause in women due to a drop in estrogen levels, infection, and as a side effect of certain medications.

Myth 2: Reducing fluid intake reduces urinary incontinence.

Limiting fluid intake may sound like a brilliant idea since drinking plenty of water increases the frequency and urgency of urination. However, it has been shown that drinking adequate amounts of fluid in small doses throughout the day helps to prevent leakage. In fact, severe limitation of fluid intake can make urine more concentrated, increasing the risk of bladder irritation and worsening urinary incontinence. Drinking enough water also helps to reduce odors. Doctors recommend that you sip water between meals, avoid fluids for two hours before bed, and reduce or avoid citrus juices, caffeine, carbonated beverages and alcohol.

Myth 3: Surgery is a necessary treatment for urinary incontinence.

While surgery is one effective treatment for incontinence, it comes with more risks than other treatment options. For instance, invasive surgical procedures such as sling surgery and retropubic suspension have associated risks such as difficulty urinating and worsened incontinence. Therefore, affected individuals should always be offered the option of trying nonsurgical treatment first and only opt for surgery when nonsurgical options fail. In fact, for most people, simple lifestyle changes, medications for relaxing the bladder and treating urinary infections, medical devices like pessaries, weight loss, dietary changes, and pelvic floor muscle exercises provide considerable improvement in symptoms. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort.

Myth 4: Delaying urination strengthens the pelvic floor.

While many think that delaying going to the bathroom can help to strengthen the pelvic floor, the truth is that this can overstretch the bladder, resulting in a flaccid and dysfunctional bladder. Therefore, for a person living with urinary incontinence, it is important to avoid actions that may weaken your bladder and instead seek immediate medical treatment. Remember, urinary incontinence may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition that requires a prompt visit to a urologist. So stop living quietly with urinary incontinence and thinking that you can crudely wish it away. Talk to your doctor about what could be causing the problem and what might be the best individual treatment option for you. For more information on managing urinary incontinence, visit the St Pete Urology website or make an appointment for a consultation with a urologist.

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Technological Innovations in Urology

Technological innovations in urology have resulted in far-reaching improvements in patient care. At St Pete Urology, the implementation of new technologies and innovations has improved diagnostic accuracy, enhanced the safety and quality of treatments, and streamlined patient information systems. For example, the use of advanced imaging technologies has enabled urologists to visualize and diagnose different conditions more precisely while minimally invasive surgery results in significantly reduced pain and quicker recovery and convalescence.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Our urology specialists use laparoscopic surgery when applying miniature instruments inserted using a small tube (known as a laparoscope) through small incisions in the patient’s body. We use novel biological sensors, techniques and instruments to ensure less pain, faster recovery and better outcomes for urologic problems. For example, we offer minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for kidney stones, pelvic organ prolapse, live donor nephrectomy, uretal stricture, uretopelvic junction obstruction, renal cysts, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer and more. Our urologists in St Petersburg have also refined laparoscopic surgery for use in children to remove dysfunctional or malformed kidneys, correct blocked ureters and treat undescended testicles.

Robotic Surgery

At St Pete Urology, every urologist is trained in the use of robotic surgery to perform operations with more precision. Robot-assisted surgery is a minimally-invasive operation similar to laparoscopy (performed through smaller incisions than open surgery), but in which small surgical tools are mounted on a robotic arm controlled by the surgeon using a computer. The urologist makes tiny incisions for inserting the instruments into the body then uses an endoscope to view enlarged 3-D images of the affected area during the operation. Our urology clinic boasts of the da Vinci machine, the world’s most advanced surgical robot, enabling our specialists to conduct operations with better vision, precision and control.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

Also called Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), this form of treatment has been implemented at St Pete Urology with great success for prostate patients. Our state-of-the-art imaging enables urologists to direct radiation with more precision to the area of the prostate that requires treatment. With better preparation and planning, this technology ensures more accuracy and allows the urologist to target the same area of the prostate for all additional treatments. In fact, EBRT ensures less radiation and pinpoint accuracy for better outcomes and reduced side effects associated with radiotherapy.

Cryosurgery and Cryosurgical Ablation

We have implemented new cryosurgical technologies for treating prostate cancer, making it easier for our urologists to map cancerous cells more precisely, and freezing and killing cells not reachable by means of radical prostatectomy surgery. Similarly, we use cryosurgical ablation to destroy diseased tissues and eradicate prostate cancer in patients who decline radical surgery (involving prostate removal). Our cryosurgical procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis and without incisions, ensuring minimal blood loss or side effects.

Selecting the Best Technologies

In a world with seemingly endless urology innovations and technologies, we have carefully selected and implemented only those that are effective and appeal to both patients and doctors. This means that all technologies at St Pete Urology have a proven efficacy, cause the least discomfort to patients, and can easily be performed by every urologist. For more information on safer and effective use of the latest technological innovations in the treatment of urological conditions, make an appointment at St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.

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Urology Patient Testimonial

Dr. Graves is the kindest, most thoughtful, genuinely caring doctor I have ever encountered in my entire life; and my brother had cancer when we were three and mom had a triple by-pass at twelve. I grew up in hospitals, but I have not spent much time in them for myself since very recently. I would rather pass a stone at home-and have twice- than have the kidney stone blasted at the hospital because of the pain afterward from endometriosis. Dr Graves called me HIMSELF to check on me. Choose him. – Kendra Burke

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