Archive for February, 2012

Spring Training is Back in Session

Saturday, February 25th, 2012
American League Champions 2011 Texas Rangers

Rangers win American League

A little over three months ago, the Texas Rangers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. No, I am not going to open up that wound. What I am going to point out is, with the movement of time, new hope abounds. This past Wednesday, Pitchers and Catchers reported to spring training. Spring Training, the time that all the teams start out even. We get to begin dreaming and slowly build excitement to Opening Day. New Players have joined the Rangers, such as Yu Darvish from Japan. Others look to improve on last season’s success, and hopefully, see several players begin their move to glory. Youthful, amazing players, like Derek Holland and Elvis Andrus and perennial superstars, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton are among them. This season holds much hope and promise. Two consecutive American League Championships. Third time is a charm. Let’s GO Rangers!!

Vasectomy Reversal – Myths and Misperceptions

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

As with any other surgery, the fear of the unknown can produce many myths and misperceptions that can be easily corrected with facts and truth. Vasectomy reversal has had its share of myths and misperceptions.  The success rate for vasectomy reversal is very high, in the hands of a Fellowship-trained Male Infertility Specialist and Micro Surgeon. Dr Buch has a rate of 98%, based on findings at time of surgery, if a straightforward vasovasostomy can be performed.  Another myth is about testicular cancer.  There is no clinical evidence that vasectomy reversal s causes testicular cancer.  Many people believe that age is a factor in vasectomy reversal s.  To the contrary, any man that has had a vasectomy can have a reversal performed regardless of his age, as long as he does not have a medical condition that would prevent him from doing so.  There are always concerns about which doctors are qualified to perform vasectomy reversals.  I highly recommend that, if you are going to get a vasectomy reversal, you should choose a skilled Micro Surgeon, who is Fellowship-trained in Male Infertility, that has an good excellent track record of successful vasectomy reversals, and someone who stands behind his high success rates with a Money Back Guarantee.  If you have any further questions or concerns regarding vasectomy reversal s, consult your family doctor, urologist, or a micro surgeon.

We lightly touched on a few myths today, and invite you to return regularly as we look to explore many other myths and misperceptions.

What is Covered Under My Health Insurance?

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

We have heard about health insurance companies having to acknowledge birth control as preventive care for women as a part of their coverage. Currently, it is at the top of the news with the controversy between the Government and Catholic Institutions over what is required under the Health Care Mandate. Did you know that vasectomies are a form of birth control for men, and it is covered by most insurance companies?  It is important for you to know exactly what your medical insurance benefits are.  Too many times,  patients have undergone medical procedures, only to be stuck with a large bill. To avoid unplanned expenses, contact your insurance company and find out the participating doctors are in your insurance network, and determine your expected out-of-pocket expenses are.

A vasectomy normally costs around $950, but as mentioned earlier, it is normally covered by most insurance companies, so you may be responsible for only a small fraction of the cost.  However, unlike vasectomy, a vasectomy reversal is not covered by most insurance plans.  The price of a vasectomy reversal can range from $6,000 – $15,000. There are several positive factors about getting a vasectomy reversal: less expensive, more natural, and more affordable than vitro fertilization. Plus, when performed by a highly qualified and skilled Male Infertility Specialist and Micro Surgeon, you could achieve 98% success rate.

Now your can have a vasectomy reversal for as little as $217.62 a month (OAC). Call us at 972-612-7131 to schedule your free phone consultation with Dr. Buch.

Men’s Health is Very Important

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

Recently, we have been running a series of postings concerning issues pertaining to men’s health. Honestly, when it comes to health and nutrition men are the worst.  We have little to no regard when it comes to our bodies or what we put in it.  We go out of our way to preserve the quality of the engines in our vehicles and toys, but neglect the most important piece of our life.  Why not give our bodies the same attention?  It is imperative for us to watch the types of foods that we consume.  According to Men’s Health Magazine, our brains depend on a variety of nutrients to keep it balanced.  One of the top killers of Americans is heart disease, and it can be attributed to how and what we eat.  Good nutrition plays a vital role in our overall well being.  We have to stay away from foods like: pizza, hot wings, and hamburgers; also alcohol consumption should be kept to a minimum.  You have to treat your body like the great temple that it is.  So, next time you are feeding your body junk food, unlike your car, our bodies can’t be replaced.

In addition to nutrition, we have looked at high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and testicular cancer, and the effects they can have on men from erectile dysfunction to infertility. These are things to consider when dealing with fertility and overall urological issues. Your health must be at the forefront of thought when considering and undergoing male infertility treatments. Just as with women, men must maintain a healthy diet and exercise before, during, and after treatment. Are you doing the right things for your health?

Dr. Jeffrey Buch and Legacy Male Health Institute are here to help, thus we will continue our series on men’s health and issues associated with male infertility. If you have any questions or comments, be sure to let us know.

Male Fertility Tests Hitting the Drug Store Counters in April

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Men, the time is fast approaching. According to Bloomberg and several other news sources, Walgreens and CVS are, reportedly, moving to begin carrying male fertility tests. The article states,

In April, Walgreen’s 7,800 U.S. stores plan to start selling a fertility test that determines if a man is producing enough sperm to get a woman pregnant. Walgreen and CVS have already started selling SpermCheck Fertility online. The blue-and-gold box, which features a smiling couple holding a newborn, will join more than two dozen varieties of female fertility tests in Walgreen stores. SpermCheck’s owner and distributor, closely held ContraVac Inc., is banking on women dropping an extra $40 for the test when they buy ovulation and pregnancy kits for themselves. “In our society, the woman carries the burden of trying to determine the issues surrounding infertility,” said Ray Lopez, ContraVac’s chief executive officer. “Men don’t say, ‘Let me go to the urologist and give a semen sample.’” That reluctance has created a $440 million-a-year market for male fertilitytests in the U.S., Lopez says.  Every year, about 7.3 million women in the U.S. have trouble with pregnancies, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control. Many women, assuming they are to blame, visit gynecologists. They are “poked and prodded” and sent home while few husbands want to consider that they’re possibly at fault, according to Barbara Collura, executive director of Resolve: the National Infertility Association in McLean, Virginia. (Bloomberg.com)

What does that mean for you? First, accuracy is the word for the day. As with female tests, a second opinion from a medical professional, particularly a male infertility micro-surgeon, should be the next step if a negative test result is produced. Second, the testing procedures should be easy to follow. The article states that it’s a relatively easy process, but if a man is willing to meet with a urologist, then its not necessary to take the test at home.  Remember, An OTC sperm test still cannot replace a truly accurate and reliable semen analysis rendered by a reputable Andrology Laboratory.

The movement to provide male infertility testing in the drugstore is a huge advancement in drugs and medicine, but its accuracy and reliability should be continuously monitored to maintain a high level of integrity and responsibility.

Super Bowl XLVI – Our Prediction

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Patriots vs. Giants

Once again, the class is in session.  The professor Tom Brady along with the New England Patriots are ready to take the New York Giants to school!
This will go down as one of the best Super Bowl rematches in NFL history.  Victory will come in a different manner in Indiana.  I know that the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots four years ago in Super Bowl XLII but that will not happen this year because the Patriots are not under the same amount of pressure they were back then.
The Patriots are coming off a stellar post-season performance.  Just look how they breezed passed the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants are incapable of beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl because the Pats are unstoppable.  Like I said before Eli Manning is good but Tom Brady is better.   All of the skeptics, who feel that Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are overrated, will definitely be silenced once and for all this Sunday.  We have two days until this historic showdown.  The New England Patriots will
be the 2012 Super Bowl Champions.

Go Patriots!

 

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/46

InVitro Fertilization and Newt Gingrich’s Comment

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Monday, Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich called for a commission to study ethical issues that relate to in vitro fertilization clinics. However, these clinics are already regulated by medical ethics groups, www.asrm.org. These clinics are frequented by women that have infertility issues. Women can go to these clinics to receive treatments to help them get pregnant. To serve their clients, in vitro clinics create large numbers of embryos for fertilization. Gingrich stated, “If you have in vitro fertilization you are creating life. And therefore we should look seriously at what should the rules be for clinics that do that because they’re creating life.”  According to eMedicineHealth.com, “With IVF, a method of assisted reproduction, a man’s sperm and the woman’s egg are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman’s uterus (womb) to implant and develop naturally.” Usually, only two embryos are placed in the woman’s uterus at one time. Occasionally, 3 or 4 may be used in women with lower IVF success potential.  Each attempt is called a cycle. The term test tube baby is often used to refer to children conceived with this technique, although it really occurs in a Petri dish.

There are some women who want to become pregnant because their spouse or boyfriend is infertile as a result of a vasectomy. In this case, the more natural and cost-effective solution is a vasectomy reversal. This procedure is routine in the hands of an experienced micro-surgeon,  and has a high success rate without any further ramifications. Unlike in vitro fertilization there are no ethical issues surrounding vasectomy reversals.  If you are considering vasectomy reversal, please contact a qualified male infertility micro-surgeon and vasectomy reversal specialist.

Read more: http://www.cbs12.com/articles/gingrich-4738445-research-stem.html#ixzz1l4ULr8NM