Since the recommendations, The American Urological Association (AUA) has been working tirelessly to spread the word about the value of the PSA test for prostate cancer screening and their complete disagreement with the USPSTF recommendations.

Others are following suit. On January 17, 2012, the New Jersey state legislature passed an act (AJR89/SJR77) opposing the USPSTF recommendations on P.S.A. testing. They are the first state to take this action, which guarantees coverage for the test in spite of the USPSTF recommendation, and the AUA has said they applaud them for taking this bold and decisive stand.

Urology Austin patients are still expressing some confusion over the P.S.A. screen.

We continue to tell them that the test does in fact save lives. The AUA Best Practices Guidelines recommend offering P.S.A. screenings to any male over age 40 with a 10 year or greater life expectancy.  PSA screening risks and benefits should be discussed with all male patients who fit this category.

We also urge you to continue sharing your opinions with lawmakers and members of the Central Texas community about the value of prostate cancer testing. We believe men who are in good health and have more than a 10 year life expectancy should have the choice to have the P.S.A. screen and not be discouraged from taking the test.

Why do we encourage our patients over 40 to get a P.S.A. test? Just look at the statistics:

• One in six men in the U.S. will get prostate cancer, making it the second most common cancer among men after skin cancer
• 217, 730 were diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. More than 32,000 men died from the disease
• The P.S.A. test, routinely given to men over age 40, measures the protein, prostate-specific antigen, that’s released by prostate cells. There is little doubt that it helps identify the presence of cancerous cells in the prostate.

For more information, go to www.urologyaustin.com

Yes, it’s true. Many avid basketball fans see March Madness as the perfect time to play their own form of “zone defense” by having this simple yet highly effective birth control procedure done. It’s become such a trend, in fact, that some urologists are actively promoting it with items like sports magazines, pizza delivery deals and so forth. Actually, the reasoning behind it is sensible enough. There’s nothing like a sports tournament keep even a casual fan glued to the living room couch all day. Vasectomies are not particularly painful, but there is some swelling and men generally need a few days’ recovery time where they can sit still in a comfortable spot. What better time to schedule the procedure than just before a nice long session on the couch watching your favorite teams battle for it all?

Have you been putting off your vasectomy because you keep waiting for the “right time?” If you have any interest in NCAA basketball, that right time might as well be March Madness. If you’re nervous about any time being the right time, don’t be. A Urology Austin vasectomy is a quick outpatient procedure. The minimal discomfort you feel is easily managed with over-the-counter medication, and you’ll feel just fine after some quiet time with an ice pack and everybody’s favorite sport – watching TV!

“Like” Urology Austin’s Facebook page and tell us who you think will be in the Final 4 and the first 150 people will be entered to win a new Kindle Fire.

Prostate Cancer and Obesity: A Deadly Combination

That annoying spare tire that some men in Austin have dismissed as an inevitable part of the aging process may also fuel a more dangerous and life threatening situation –  prostate cancer. According to a recent study at Duke University Medical Center, obese men may carry up to six times more risk for developing this deadly cancer than men of normal weight. Even mildly overweight men seem to carry an elevated risk. The message is clear: If you are a prostate cancer patient or survivor in Austin, watch your weight!

Dr. Christopher Kato and his team studied 287 men who had recurrences of their cancer after under-going radical prostatectomies, or removal of the prostate gland. The study group first received treatment designed to lower their testosterone levels, eliminating excess testosterone as a potential factor in the cancer’s spread.

This treatment continued for a median 52-month period, with the entire study period extending for six years following prostatectomy. The doctors found that the higher an individual’s BMI (body mass index), the higher the risk of the spread of prostate cancer. In fact, 77 percent of the study group had a BMI above the normal limit of 24.9. Even the overweight but non-obese members of the study displayed 3 times the risk of a normal BMI for prostate cancer. And these findings weren’t the first, either – earlier studies had already indicated a doubled risk where obesity was involved.

Why would extra pounds stimulate prostate cancer growth? That’s unclear as yet, though it’s possible that obesity may result in a kind of inflammatory reaction in cells that in turn feeds the cancer. Whatever the exact cause, here at your source for men’s prostate health, Urology Austin, we urge you to keep your weight under control and stay as close to a normal BMI as possible.

We were delighted to see so many concerned Austinites turn out, individual participants and sponsoring organizations alike. A team of 40 from the Charfen Institute took part, along with a team of 15 from the Austin Radiological Association, and we’re grateful to both organizations. We’d also like to thank the 100 volunteers who worked tirelessly to help us make Dash for Dad a success. In addition to the sponsoring organizations and volunteer help, Dash for Dad drew its share of high-profile guests. KXAN’s own Jim Swift emceed the festivities, and State Representative Paul Workman served as our honorary chair. Austin music legend Van Wilks helped promote the event through various media interviews and was on hand to walk part of the course in support of our cause.

When you consider that prostate cancer, the “silent killer,” kills a man every 18 minutes in this country, you can see the importance of events such as Dash for Dad in raising public awareness about this potentially deadly disease. We know that Dash for Dad will continue to make a difference — and we’d love to have your participation as well. Contact Urology Austin to find out how you or your organization can get involved in next year’s run.

For more information on Prostate Cancer and Treatment visit http://urologyaustin.com/

Urology Austin’s Dr. Michael Floyd addressed this issue head-on in an Op Ed letter. To quote Dr. Floyd: “Early detection is critical to the success of prostate cancer treatments. Ask any man whose life has been saved as a result of taking the PSA test, and he will tell you early detection made the real difference between life and death.” Dr. Floyd also points out the danger of not educating at-risk groups about the importance of testing for prostate cancer. “This newest recommendation definitely puts in harm’s way all the men who are most at risk…All men, and especially those in higher risk categories, should be able to make an informed decision about prostate cancer screening in consultation with their doctors.”

Dr. Floyd also noted that he and other physicians associated with Urology Austin, St. David’s HealthCare System, and the prostate cancer support group Us Too provided free testing to more than 1,000 men in the greater Austin area in September, which was Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. We want to repeat his message: PSA testing saves lives. Remember it — and request it!

A semen analysis gives your physician information about your sperm counts (concentration), morphology (the size and shape of the sperm), and volume based on the specimen provided. Every couple having trouble conceiving should have a full work up that includes a semen analysis to further evaluate the male partner.

Steps You Can Take for Improved Sperm Counts

When you are trying to conceive, the sperm count from a semen analysis should measure 80 million or greater.  If your numbers are lower than this, your physician can make recommendations to improve your counts and increase fertility potential.

Your doctor may first begin with OTC medications and supplements that can improve the fertility potential, such as vitamin E, selenium, L carnitine, acetyl-L carnitine, folic acid, and zinc sulfate.

In some cases, your physician may prescribe medications to adjust the hormonal profile and semen parameters in the hopes of increasing the sperm count.  These medications are not recommended for every patient and are prescribed after evaluation of the male hormones like FSH, LH, Testosterone, and Prolactin, to name a few.  Examples of the medications are Clomid, Arimidex, and HCG.

Infection or inflammation in the genitourinary systems can also contribute to low sperm counts and is indicated when white blood cells (WBC) are found in the sperm specimen upon analysis.  Increased WBC counts are often treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or in rare cases, with antioxidant therapy and sperm harvesting.  Most of the time, we can successfully treat WBC in the sperm specimen with medications.

Issues with the male anatomy can also contribute to a low sperm count.  Varicoceles, blockage of the ejaculatory ducts, and retrograde ejaculation can impact sperm levels.

Try to remember that low sperm counts can often be successfully treated.  If you are having difficulty conceiving, have a thorough evaluation to determine if a low sperm count is a contributing factor. Infertility can affect male partners as well as female partners.  With treatment for low sperm counts, most couples are able to achieve a pregnancy.

For more information, please visit www.urologyaustin.com.

When the initial semen analysis shows no sperm, we may ask you to repeat the analysis with a special protocol that allows for a closer examination of the specimen. If the second test still reveals no sperm present, your physician will probably recommend a blood test to examine your chromosomes and determine the best recommendation on how to obtain sperm.

How can pregnancy occur without sperm?

Although the semen analysis in Austin, Texas may show no sperm, the testicles are often producing sperm, which can be extracted using Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE). As well, sperm can also be harvested from the epididymus in a procedure known as Microscopic Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA). With these outpatient surgical procedures, your doctor will retrieve the sperm, and it can be placed directly into the egg in the embryology laboratory, or frozen for future during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with ICSI. These advanced procedures are very effective in helping couples with severe male factor infertility who have non-obstructive azoospermia.

Before making a recommendation, your urologist in Austin will closely evaluate your situation, using physical examination and semen analysis, as well as chromosome analysis to determine the best option. Trying to conceive can be difficult, and we will work closely with you to minimize the stress and guide you through the decision-making process. Even if the initial semen analysis found no sperm, our physicians can offer solutions to maximize your fertility potential and retrieve sperm.

For more information on Male Infertility,  please visit http://www.urologyaustin.com/.

Varicoceles can decrease sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, which can greatly impact the ability to conceive.  Having varicoceles can cause “stress” to the testicles.  Think about how stress can alter the way that you react in a situation.  Under stress, many people have a hard time making decisions and performing at their best.

Believe it or not, the same thing can happen to the testicles.  The “stress” to the testicle can cause the temperature of the testicles to rise, decreasing the testicles’ capability to produce sperm.  Thus, the testicles are not performing at their best. If you feel lumps in your testicle or your semen analysis results are poor, you should follow up with a urologist for further evaluation and treatment.  A urologist will conduct a physical exam to determine if a varicocele is present and then recommend the best treatment course.

The good news is that if you have a varicocele it can be treated or repaired, which can offer statistical improvements in sperm count and morphology. Varicocele repair is an outpatient procedure and the recovery time is only a few days.  Several different techniques are available to repair varicoceles and your physician will discuss the options with you.

After a repair, a couple’s chances for pregnancy increases more than three times and sperm parameters also improve.  Varicocele repair, however, is not just for couples that are trying to conceive.  Having a varicocele can also affect a man’s testosterone level and interfere with satisfaction in daily life.  A varicocele repair can help increase testosterone, improving energy level, sex drive, and the ability to have an erection.

The bottom line is that if you think you may have a varicocele, either from an examination or poor semen analysis results, contact a urologist for further evaluation. Varicocele identification and repair can help enhance quality of life and improve your odds of conceiving the child you desire.

For more information, visit www.urologyaustin.com.

A semen analysis will evaluate the size, shape, and appearance of the sperm, including:

 Sperm count

Typically, this part of the testing looks at total density or count (normal = 20 million per ml or above), and the motile density (normal = 8 million per ml or higher).

 Sperm morphology

To make a determination about whether the sperm are normal, we will carefully observe a stained sperm sample under the microscope. A normal sperm will have an oval head shape, an intact mid section, and an uncoiled, single tail.

Sperm motility

Motility measures how many sperm are likely to move from the deposit area to the fertilization site.

Liquefaction and Viscosity

Sperm are usually produced in a clump. With a normal sample, the sperm will typically liquefy within 30 minutes to an hour.

For More Information Please see our NEW WEB content on Male Infertility and Semen Analysis at www.urologyaustin.com