A penile implant refers to a surgically implanted device that helps in getting an erection. This is generally used if you have erectile dysfunction.

How Does a Penile Implant Work?

An inflatable penile implant is made up of two cylinders, a reservoir, and a pump that is surgically placed in your body.

The surgeon connects the cylinder to your penis while the tubes connect this cylinder to a separate reservoir under your lower abdominal muscles. The reservoir contains fluid. A pump is also connected to this system which is placed under the loose skin of your scrotum.

To inflate the implant, you need to press the pump in your scrotum. Up on pressing, the pump transfer fluid from the reservoir to the cylinders in your penis, and inflating them to the hardness level you want.

When you wish to stop being erect, you will have to press a valve on the pump to return the fluid to the reservoir which deflates your penis.

What Happens During a Penile Implant Surgery?

During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Insert a catheter into your bladder to allow urine to flow out of your body which will be removed after the surgery.
• Make an incision on your genital area and insert the implant into your corpora cavernosa.
• The size of the implant will be customized based on the size of your penis.
• To insert the reservoir and pump, the surgeon will make additional incisions on the scrotum and below the abdomen.
• Close the incision with dissolvable stitches.

What Happens After a Penile Implant Surgery?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room. You may feel soreness and pain in your abdominal and groin area. Mostly, you will be able to go home on the same day of the surgery

 

Varicocelectomy refers to a surgical procedure that repairs your varicoceles. Varicoceles is a common disorder in which the veins inside your scrotum grow big.

What Happens During a Varicocelectomy?

During the procedure, your urologist will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Make an incision in your skin and access the varicocele to cut the veins and seal the ends.
• Place small silicone tubes in your affected area to drain blood or fluid.
• Stitch the tubes and incision.

What Happens After a Varicocelectomy?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room. Your groin or abdominal area may show soreness. You can, however, go back home on the same day.

 

Peyronie’s disease refers to a condition during which scar tissues develop in your penis. This scar tissue causes the penis to bend, curve, or lose its grith.

What Are the Symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease?

The main symptom of Peyronie’s disease is a curve or bend in your penis. Other symptoms include:

• Loss of length in your penis.
• Lump in your penis.
• Painful and soft erections.
• Difficulty having sex.
• Pain while having sex.

How is Peyronie’s Disease Treated?

If you have Peyronie’s disease, your doctor may recommend any of the following procedures:

Traction Therapy: During this procedure, an external device or vacuum erection device is used to gently stretch your penis and bind it in the opposite direction of the curve. This causes the scar tissue to break down and improve curvature, restore length, and increase erection hardness.

Surgery: If you have severe Peyronie’s disease, your surgeon will recommend surgery. During the surgery, your surgeon will either use tiny stitches or cut the extra tissues outside the curve.

Penile Implant: If any of the above procedures fail, your surgeon may recommend a penile implant.

 

Erectile dysfunction refers to a penile disorder that affects your ability to get and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.

What Are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction has the following symptoms:

• Complete inability to get an erection.
• Being able to get an erection before sexual intercourse.
• Being able to get an erection before sexual intercourse. However, not being able to maintain it during sexual intercourse.

How is Erectile Dysfunction Treated?

If you have erectile dysfunction, your doctor will first identify the underlying cause to determine the suitable treatment for you. It may include:

Cardiovascular Exercise

Aggressive cardiovascular exercise for at least 45 minutes three times per week may help in reversing some cases of mild erectile dysfunction. It may include brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, and jumping rope.

Penile low-intensity focused shockwave therapy

Your doctor may also perform this non-invasive treatment to improve blood flow in the penis by giving shockwaves.

Testosterone replacement therapy

If your testosterone levels are low, your doctor may treat you with testosterone from gel, injection, patches, or pellets.

Penile implant procedure

If you have severe erectile dysfunction, your surgeon may place a device into your penis to make it erect.

 

 

Testicular biopsy refers to a procedure to take tissue samples from your testicles.

Why Do You Need a Testicular Biopsy?

You may need a testicular biopsy for:

• Diagnosing the location and condition of a lump in the testes.
• Diagnosing the cause of male infertility.
• Obtaining sperm for in-vitro fertilization or IVF.

What Are the Risks Associated with Testicular Biopsy?

A testicular biopsy is comparatively safe, it may, however, cause:

• Haematoma or collection of blood under the skin.
• Bleeding that soaks the bandage at the biopsy site.
• Severe pain or swelling in the scrotum.
• Fever or chills.

What Happens During a Testicular Biopsy?

Testicular biopsy roughly takes about 15-20 minutes and is performed as an outpatient procedure. The surgeon may perform the procedure in two ways:

• Open Biopsy

During an open biopsy, your surgeon will:

a. Give you an anaesthetic.

b. Make a small incision through the skin and remove a tiny amount of testicular tissue.

c. Stitch the cut and close your skin.

d. Perform the same procedure for the second testicle.

• Percutaneous Biopsy

During a percutaneous biopsy, your surgeon will:

a. Insert a needle through the skin of the testicle.

b. Extract a tissue sample with the help of a core needle.

c. Draw out the tissue sample from the syringe.

d. Perform the same procedure for the second testicle.

What Happens After a Testicular Biopsy?

After the procedure, you may go back home on the same day. Your doctor will give you instructions to help you heal rapidly and remain comfortable.

 

Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) is a treatment for male infertility. This surgical procedure is usually recommended when sperm are absent in your semen and you wish to have a biological child.

What Are the Risks Associated with microTESE?

microTESE is a safe procedure, however, it may cause:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Pain or discomfort.

What Happens During microTESE?

During the procedure, your urologist will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Make a few incisions on your testicle and remove a small amount of tissue.
• Remove the tissue sample from your other testicle, if necessary.
• Send the sample to a lab. The entire procedure may take less than 2 hours.

What Happens After microTESE?

After collecting your tissue samples, your doctor will use dissolvable stitches to close your incisions. You will be able to go back home on the same day.

 

Vasectomy refers to a surgical procedure to block the vas deferens or tubes through which your sperm cells enter the semen. A vasectomy reversal is another surgical procedure to reverse the results of vasectomy.

Why Do You Need a Vasectomy Reversal?

You may need a vasectomy reversal if you:

• Changed your mind and wish to have biological children.
• Wish to restore your fertility.
• Want pain relief?
• Are in a new relationship.

What Happens During a Vasectomy Reversal?

During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Make a small incision on your scrotum, preferably at the same site as your vasectomy.
• Locate the ends of your vas deferens and identify the blocked areas.
• Pull both ends of your vas deferens and remove the scar tissue blockage.
• Check if sperm is entering the semen through the open ends.
• Close the incision with stitches.

What Happens After a Vasectomy Reversal?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room. Your doctor may monitor you for a few hours before discharging you on the same day

 

Epididymectomy refers to a surgical procedure to remove the epididymis. An epididymis is a tube that collects sperm. You have two of these tubes, one in the back of each testicle.

Why Do You Need an Epididymectomy?

You may need this procedure if you have:

• An injury in the groin area.
• A pus-filled lump or infection in the epididymis that is difficult to treat.
• A tumour or large fluid-filled sac in the epididymis.
• Long-term pain after a vasectomy.

What Are the Risks Associated with Epididymectomy?

Epididymectomy is a safe procedure, it may, however, show certain risks including:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Pain.
• Infertility.
• Damage to a testicle.

What Happens During an Epididymectomy?

Epididymectomy is an outpatient procedure which means that you can go home on the same day. During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Give you an anaesthetic.
• Make an incision on your scrotum to find the epididymis.
• Remove some part or all of the epididymis.
• Close the incision with stitches.

 

Frenuloplasty is a surgical procedure that is used in the treatment of short or tight frenulum breve. Frenulum breve is a small tag of skin that connects the foreskin to the head of the penis. This is one of the most sensitive parts of a penis and at times may cause pain and discomfort during erection.

What Happens During Frenuloplasty?

During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Give you an anaesthetic.
• May also give you a blood thinning agent to prevent blood clots from developing.
• Divide the frenulum across and re-stitch it in a lengthwise fashion which results in increased length of the frenulum.
• Close the incision with dissolvable stitches.

What are the Risks Associated with Frenuloplasty?

Frenuloplasty is generally safe, but it may have certain risks, including:

• Swelling in the penis.
• Bleeding from the incision.
• Infection at the incision site.
• Tenderness of the scar.

What Happens After Frenuloplasty?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. Your surgeon will monitor you for a few hours before sending you back home on the same day.

 

Male infertility refers to a condition during a male is unable to impregnate a woman. It may be due to variety of medical conditions including sperm problems, genetic disorders, infections, or diabetes.

What Are the Signs of Unhealthy Sperms?

The main sign of male infertility is inability to have a biological child. In addition, it can also cause various psychological and emotional symptoms, including:

• Depression.
• Grief.
• Failure.
• Inadequacy.

How is Male Infertility Treated?

An infertility treatment involves a combination of different approaches, such as:

• Lifestyle changes: Healthy sperm production can be improved by tweaking your lifestyle such as consuming a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise routine, managing stress levels, and stopping smoking or alcohol.
• Medications: If your hormonal levels are imbalanced, your doctor may also prescribe certain medications to regulate your hormones and in turn sperm production.
• Surgery: A surgical approach involves vasectomy reversal, vasoepididymostomy, or sperm retrieval surgery, or varicocelectomy to treat the condition.

 

Sexual dysfunction refers to a condition that may prevent you from feeling pleasure from sexual activity. Being unable to enjoy or not wishing to engage in a sexual activity may be a sign of sexual dysfunction.

What Are the Causes of Sexual Dysfunction?

Sexual dysfunction may be caused by physical and psychological reasons, this includes:

• Chronic health conditions.
• Diabetes.
• Hormonal imbalance.
• Depression.
• Stress or anxiety.
• Relationship problems.
• Concerns about your sexual performance.

How is Sexual Dysfunction Treated?

Depending on the cause of sexual dysfunction, your doctor may treat it by:

• Medications.
• Mechanical aids including penile implants or vacuum devices.
• Psychotherapy.
• Behavioural treatment.
• Sex education and communication.