Success rates of vasectomies are generally very high, over 99.9%. At the Austin Urology Institute we utilize tiny titanium clips, as well as cutting out the segment of vas deferens in between those two clips. This helps ensure that the vasectomy will be successful. After a vasectomy, there are still sperm swimming through the vas deferens, which need to be flushed out via ejaculation. During the 8-12 week post-procedure time period, it is important to use back-up contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Please read further in our “vasectomy” section about post-procedure instructions.
Typically, there will be some discomfort on the day of the vasectomy, which will slowly resolve within the next two to three days. We advise wearing scrotal support (boxer briefs, compression shorts, etc.) for one week, as well as refraining from exercise and intercourse for a week. This all speeds up the recovery process. The stitches usually fall off in one week, and the scar from the incisions fades away over time. Within one month, the scrotal skin will look like it did before the procedure.
Dr. Shaw has been performing vasectomies for over a decade, with several thousand performed.
Yes, Dr. Shaw does see female patients for urological issues such as urinary incontinence, frequent urinary tract infections, overactive bladder, kidney stones, bladder cancer, and kidney cancer. We also work closely with Austin Urogynecology, and their providers Dr. George Shashuoua and Sarah Stiriss, FNP. We work closely with them for complex pelvic organ prolapse cases.
Dr. Shaw typically does not perform penile prosthesis implantation. There are providers in the area who perform this procedure, and we would be happy to refer you to one of them.
Dr. Shaw does not typically treat hernias. If an inguinal hernia is suspected, we will gladly refer you to a general surgeon that we recommend.
We accept most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United, and Medicare.
We recommend waiting one week to have intercourse. This allows proper time for recovery and healing.
Vasectomies are partially or fully covered with most insurance policies depending on your insurance plan. As a courtesy, we will call your insurance and provide you with an estimate of what your “out of pocket” expense will be. We also offer one of the lowest self-pay discount to allow those not covered by insurance an affordable choice for contraception. Give us a call and we’ll assist you in getting the information you need.
The test usually takes about 20-30 minutes.
Overall, the urodynamics test should not be painful, although there are times during the test where the patient might experience some mild discomfort. Our team is very thorough in explaining each step of what they are doing. We are mindful of the fact that each patient is different, and may react differently to the procedure.
This depends on the type of surgery you had done, as well as if there were any complications, bleeding, etc. For TURP procedures (transuretheral resection of prostate), catheters are typically placed for 2-7 days. For prostatectomies (prostate removal), catheters are placed for 7-10 days. This length of time may vary, and is at the provider’s discretion.
Oral erectile dysfunction medications will usually cost around $100 out-of-pocket, per month. Insurance may sometimes cover a portion of this depending on your plan. Be sure to go on the specific medication’s website to check for any coupons or specials they might be offering.
There are several ARA locations throughout the Austin area. The closest one to our clinic is Quarry Lake, 4515 Seton Center Pkwy Austin, TX 78759.
Pelvic floor physical therapy or biofeedback therapy is a special type of physical therapy. This may be beneficial for patients with urinary problems including incontinence, incomplete emptying, and groin pain. With comprehensive baseline testing, the therapist will target your pelvic floor muscles to see how well you are contracting and relaxing those muscles, as well as urinary sphincters.
Medications all have a different course of time that they take to become fully effective. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for a short period of time, and should work relatively quickly within a few days/weeks. Other medications such as those for low testosterone or prostate enlargement may take up to weeks or months to notice the full effect. Depending on your diagnosis and treatment selected specifically for you, we will review in detail what to expect from each medication.
The cause of prostatitis (infection or inflammation of the prostate) is generally unknown. Since the prostate sits in between the rectum and the bladder, two areas where bacteria may be present, there could be a possible transference of bacteria to the prostate. It may also depend on the anatomy of each individual prostate. Certain prostates may develop calcifications which harbor bacteria.
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