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 ever year, let’s take a look at 8 signs you may have kidney stones.
Author: Miguel A. Mercado, MD
What You Should Know About Vasectomy Reversals
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.
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Advanced Prostate Cancer Diagnoses Rising As PSA Screening Decline
In most types of cancer, advanced cases or stages are more difficult to treat, and cure rates are lower. As of this date, the rate of prostate cancer diagnoses at an advanced stage has increased by 4-5% since 2011. If this continues, it is expected that death rates will increase as time passes. The cause and effect? Advanced prostate cancer diagnoses rising as PSA screening declines.
Continue reading “Advanced Prostate Cancer Diagnoses Rising As PSA Screening Decline”
Having Difficulty Urinating? It May Be BPH
Having difficulty urinating? Could it be BPH? Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is the medical term for an enlarged prostate gland. If you are a male over the age of 40 and having uncomfortable changes to your normal urination, this is one of the major symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Continue reading “Having Difficulty Urinating? It May Be BPH”
Men’s Guide to Urinary Incontinence
While women are more likely than men to experience urinary incontinence, the condition can be especially troublesome for men. Men seek care from incontinence after living with the problem for about 4.2 years on average. You don’t have to wait years to get some help. Take control by reading this men’s guide to urinary incontinence.
When Is The Ideal Time In A Man’s Life To Have A Vasectomy?
When is the ideal time in a man’s life to have a vasectomy? There is no age or situation that qualifies as the ideal time. It is different for each man. It’s a personal and very private decision that is usually made with his partner and after much thought.
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Dr. Mercado Is The Woodlands’ First To Offer iTind
What Is The iTind™ Procedure?
Miguel Mercado, M.D. is the first in North Houston to perform the iTind ™ procedure for the minimally invasive treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. This new procedure is an effective alternative to invasive surgeries, drugs and permanent implants.
Miguel Mercado, M.D. is very excited to be able to offer this new minimally invasive procedure to men who are suffering from the bothersome symptoms of BPH and are looking for a treatment option that is proven to not compromise sexual function.
Understanding BPH
BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate and one of the most common diseases in aging men. BPH affects approximately 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90% of men over the age of 80. Symptoms of this common condition include frequent urination with a sense of urgency and a weak urinary stream, which can include excessive urination at night. When suffered over time, these symptoms can have a negative impact on the overall quality of life. Thanks to recent technology, Dr. Mercado is able to provide more minimally invasive treatment options beyond drugs and surgery.
How Does iTind Work?
The iTind procedure involves the temporary placement of a nitinol device that reshapes the prostatic urethra without burning or cutting out tissue, and without leaving behind a permanent implant. The device remains in place for five to seven days while the patient is at home, and clinical trials have proven that, upon removal, patients experience immediate relief of their symptoms without any effect on their sexual function.
The iTind device is indicated for men aged 50 and above. As with any medical procedure, implantation of the iTind device comes with the possibility of side effects, including pelvic discomfort, blood in urine, painful or urgent urination. In rare cases, the iTind device may cause urinary tract infection or a sudden difficulty to urinate.
To learn more about iTind and see if it may be the right treatment option for you, schedule a visit with Dr. Mercado.
Schedule a BPH Consultation in The Woodlands, TX
For more information about this new BPH treatment option, please call Texas Urology Specialists at (281) 351-5174.
1 What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)? UrologyHealth.org.
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/b/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-(bph). Updated September
2021. Accessed March 8, 2022.
2 Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Urology Care Foundation. Accessed November 12, 2021.
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/b/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-(bph)
3 Alcaraz A, Carballido-Rodríguez J, Unda-Urzaiz M, et al. Quality of life in patients with lower urinary
tract symptoms associated with BPH: change over time in real-life practice according to treatment–the
QUALIPROST study. Int Urol Nephrol. 2016;48(5):645-656. doi:10.1007/s11255-015-1206-7
4 Chughtai B, Elterman D, Shore N, et al. The iTind Temporarily Implanted Nitinol Device for the
Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A
Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial [published online ahead of print, 2020 Dec 26]. Urology.
2020;S0090-4295(20)31520-X. DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.12.022
Waking Up To Pee: Could It Be BPH?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, simply means an enlarged prostate gland. If you are a male and over the age of 45, you most likely know about this condition, as it affects men as they age and causes a number of symptoms. If you are waking up at night to pee, you may be wondering if it could be due to BPH.
Myths And Facts About Penile Implants
Let’s be honest, when men hear about something being implanted into their penis, it doesn’t sound like a walk in the park. Most of us would agree. The problem arises from the amount of misinformation online concerning penile implants. Let’s unravel the myths and facts about penile implants.
Male Infertility: Can A Urologist Help?
Male infertility is both common and treatable. If you are in a relationship and ready to start a family, but are having no success, it might be time to find out the cause.