Author: Scott Hassell, MD

Many of us are aware that a dark yellow color of urine is a sign that we need to drink more water every day, but are you aware of what to do if you notice blood in your urine?

If you notice blood in your urine it can be a cause for concern. Dr. Scott Hassell recommends you always schedule an evaluation, as it could be due to a condition that needs treatment.

Is It Really Blood?

Don’t immediately panic if your urine looks pinkish or dark, but don’t ignore it either. A strange color can indicate what you have recently eaten, how much fluid you have consumed, what medications you are taking, how old you are, or even how much exercise you normally get.

Urine can be many colors and may or may not be worrisome, for example:

• Dark yellow to clear urine ranges from not drinking enough water to drinking too much making it completely clear. Watch out for murky or white urine as this could be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
• Orange urine indicates a certain diet or medication. Someone who eats a lot of carrots or drinks carrot juice may find their urine turns orange. On the other hand, if it is accompanied by light colored stools, see our men’s health clinic in Plano, TX.
• Green urine can be a result of particular medications or taking Vitamin B every day. It could also be caused by a UTI.
• Brown urine can mean any number of things like eating fava beans or rhubarb. It can also mean liver or kidney problems.
• Pink or red urine is concerning of course. It could be something simple like eating beets, or it could be blood. If you don’t consume a lot of beets, make an appointment with a urologist. A simple urinalysis will tell you whether there is reason for concern.

When To See Board Certified Urologist in Plano, TX

Blood in the urine can be caused by serious conditions including kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer. In addition, an inflammation of the urethra, a bladder infection, prostate cancer, or a simple UTI can be the cause. If you notice blood in your urine and it goes away, don’t ignore it.

Make an appointment with Dr. Hassell, a board-certified urologist, for testing, even if you only notice blood in your urine once, as it can indicate serious medical conditions.

To schedule an appointment at our urology office in Plano, TX, please call (972) 612-8037 today.

Making major decisions in life—like getting a vasectomy—don’t have to remain permanent. A vasectomy is a procedure that prevents semen from exiting a man’s body and impregnating his partner. It is basically sterilization. The good news for many men is that it can be reversed should he change his mind. What you should know about vasectomy reversals.

Why a Vasectomy Reversal?

Five hundred thousand men choose to have a vasectomy each year in the US. Having a vasectomy too early in life can lead to regret. Sometimes a marriage ends, and a man enters into a new relationship where having a family is paramount. Other times a child is lost. And sometimes, a man just changes his mind later in life.

Reversal is a Low Risk Outpatient Procedure

A vasectomy reversal is performed at an outpatient clinic by a urologist, and you can return home afterward. Be sure your surgeon has expertise in doing vasectomies and reversals like Dr. Hassell in  Plano.
It is a minimally invasive surgery with low risk, and it takes approximately 2 hours to perform either under general anesthesia, or local where you remain awake but can not feel anything.
Many are now down using microsurgery techniques. It is best to wait for about 3 weeks before having sexual intercourse again in order to thoroughly heal.

Most Insurance Companies Do Not Cover Reversals

Talk with your insurance company to see if your plan will cover any of the costs.
If you have any questions about procedure cost, please call our office at (972) 612-8037 .

Vasectomy Reversals Are Successful

Successful vasectomy reversals can be as high as 95% if the original surgery was performed less than 10 years ago. That rate begins to decline after 15 years.

Other reasons your reversal could be compromised:

• The health of your sperm
• Your partner’s age is a factor
• Fertility issues of both you and your partner

If time is a factor, you can opt for a sperm retrieval procedure to facilitate in-vitro fertilization.
Contact Scott Hassell, MD at (972) 612-8037   if you are considering a vasectomy reversal procedure. We will walk you through the process and give you all your options.

There are few things as painful as passing a kidney stone. Some people compare it to giving birth. With around 600,000 kidney stone cases in the United States every year, let’s take a look at 8 signs you may have kidney stones.

Continue reading “8 Signs You May Have Kidney Stones” →