Fertility

While vasectomies are considered a “permanent” form of sterilization, that’s not actually 100% true. A vasectomy can be a permanent and highly effective form of birth control for couples… unless you don’t want it to be anymore. With advanced medical technology and a skilled surgeon, vasectomy reversals are becoming a common solution for men seeking to regain the ability to achieve a pregnancy with a partner. This procedure is growing in popularity, with about 10% of men who get a vasectomy eventually choosing to reverse them.

If you’re considering getting your vasectomy reversed, here are some things to keep in mind:

How Does It Work?

Whenever a man gets a vasectomy, his physician clamps, reroutes, or “snips” the vas deferens, so that sperm is no longer present when the man ejaculates. In a vasectomy reversal, the cut ends of the sperm pathway are reconnected, so that sperm can again exit the body through the urethra. Depending on the type of vasectomy you may have had to begin with, it may be more or less difficult to connect those cut ends. The entire surgery is incredibly detailed, and the area affected is so small that the whole thing takes place under a microscope.

How Will I Feel Afterwards?

A vasectomy reversal is considered a minimally invasive procedure, and most patients can go back to work within 2-3 days. Pain is similar to that of a vasectomy procedure and easily controlled with light painkillers for a week or so. Most men can return to their normal routines—sex included—within 2-3 weeks, after taking it easy for a short time. There are relatively few side effects associated with this procedure, and most vasectomy reversals remain effective for many years.

Will It Work?

A vasectomy doesn’t stop your body from producing sperm, it only stops the sperm from leaving your body during sex. When a vasectomy is reversed, you can be fertile almost immediately in a best-case scenario, since we’ve just connected the passageway so that the sperm can now exit the body again. That said, there are some scenarios where a blockage or scarring may occur and interfere, especially if the vasectomy was done many years ago. While almost all vasectomies can be reversed, the process can sometimes be more involved depending on your situation.

The reasons men may choose to reverse a vasectomy are many and varied, ranging from a new partner or marriage, the death of a child, to a couple simply deciding they want more children. While the fertility of a couple is determined by a wide range of variables, a vasectomy reversal can significantly increase the chances of conception and bring you one step closer to making your dreams of parenthood come true. For further information about this procedure or to schedule an appointment with one of our fertility experts, contact our offices today.

A special class of Dr. Mistry’s patients is long-distance bicycle riders. There’s a distinct difference between wearing boxers or briefs a few hours a day and going on a 110-mile bike ride with shorts that are so tight they leave nothing to the imagination.

People will often ask, how does long-distance bicycle riding affect fertility? Cycling can affect men’s fertility in several ways, including:

1. The rigors of training can take important bodily resources away from the reproductive tract. No one ever said cycling is easy! Training is often rigorous and puts a lot on the body.

 

2. As we all know, we can’t just jump up and decide one day to go on a 100-mile bike ride. Well, we could, but we probably wouldn’t get very far without months of training and preparation. Cyclists know this well and often have to train their bodies to withstand long distances and to train their bodies to go periods of heavy activity without a lot of water. This constant cycle of dehydration and heavy training can also have an impact on sperm function, as well as testicular function and testosterone metabolism.

 

3. We’ve all seen the cycling shorts or body suit that cyclists usually wear when going on a long ride and it can actually impact sperm and fertility. How? The use of tight shorts can increase testicular temperature, which can affect how the sperm move and how effectively they are produced.

 

People who ride bicycles long-distance often will develop a condition called pudendal neuropathy – also known as pudendal neuralgia – in which the nerves that provide feeling to the penis can be impacted. It’s known by many cyclists as a “numb penis” when they get off the bicycle after a long-distance bicycle ride. This can impact their ability to get and maintain an erection, which can also affect fertility.

Concerned about how long-distance cycling or any other sport might have an impact on your fertility? Book an appointment with us today. 

 How can Men’s Fertility Center of Austin, part of the NAU Urology Specialists family of providers, help improve men’s fertility through a holistic approach?

A holistic approach to health means treating the “whole” you, not simply narrowing in one area. At Men’s Fertility Center of Austin, we believe in treating the “whole” you to reach optimal health and wellness. This approach can have a positive impact on many areas of your health, including male fertility.

Our comprehensive approach to male health and male fertility focuses on your complete wellness and health, not just one or two areas. Sperm count can often reflect an individual’s overall health, therefore, if an individual has a low sperm count, it could point to health-related issues and vice versa. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity can significantly impact an individual’s fertility potential.

Simply having an abnormal semen analysis is a risk factor for a man to develop cardiovascular disease early in his life. Elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and regulation of blood glucose all can impact fertility. Early identification of these problems, can impact both a man’s fertility as well as help him live longer.

When our providers at Men’s Fertility Center of Austin assess a man’s fertility, we like to use the opportunity to make their whole health better. That’s why at our office, in addition to semen analysis and hormone panels, we will also be doing an intense investigation of your metabolic parameters that can affect your overall health.

What does this include? An evaluation of your blood sugar levels, your thyroid levels, your lipid levels, and your blood pressure. We also make sure that you’re within your ideal body mass index. If you’re leveling out of the ideal range for your health, we have health coaches on staff that can help guide your diet and supplement menu to make you as healthy as you can be. Being the healthiest you can be will positively impact your sperm count.

All patients will have a traditional semen analysis to assess their fertility. This is the most basic test and remains one of the single most important tests to assess male fertility.

Our approach to an individual’s fertility evaluation will focus on four aspects: Genetic, Hormonal, Lifestyle, and Physiology. Our services include genetic fertility testing, hormonal fertility testing, lifestyle fertility evaluation, and physiologic fertility evaluation.

Visit our website or contact our office to schedule your initial consultation today.