If you're thinking about your sexual health, turn to VHC Health in Arlington and the DC metro. You'll find personal, respectful care that helps you live a fulfilling life.
Adult Circumcision
Circumcision removes the foreskin from the penis. Your doctor may recommend it to help with repeated infections, pain, swelling or trouble keeping the area clean. You might also choose it for personal, cultural or religious reasons.
Before your procedure, you’ll receive anesthesia so you won’t feel pain. After surgery, you’ll have stitches along the incision. Some redness, swelling, and mild discomfort are normal. Your penis may look black and blue at first due to bruising. This color will slowly change to yellow or brown and then fade away.
Most men recover within a few weeks. Avoid sex and heavy activity until your doctor says it’s safe. You’ll go home with pain medicine and clear instructions about caring for the area.
No-Scalpel Vasectomy
Ask your doctor about VHC Health's less invasive vasectomy. It doesn't use a large cut, but it still stops sperm from leaving the testicles. Many men choose this no-scalpel option because it's quick and has a smooth recovery.
Our urologists have years of experience in this procedure. Benefits include:
- Short surgery time (about 20 minutes)
- Lower risk of infection or bleeding
- Faster recovery with less pain
What to Expect
After you see us, we’ll schedule your vasectomy. Follow the instructions you receive to prepare. The procedure usually takes place in the office, and you can go home the same day.
Your surgeon will:
- Make tiny openings on each side of the scrotum
- Find and gently divide the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm)
- Seal the ends
- Close the small openings
Afterward, you may feel sore for a few days. Rest, ice packs, supportive underwear, and ibuprofen (such as Motrin or Advil) can help. Most men return to light activity within a few days.
Procedure Follow-Up
You won't be sterile right away. It can take a few months for sperm to clear from your semen. About three to four months later, you’ll have a semen test to make sure no sperm are present. Until your doctor confirms this, use birth control to prevent pregnancy. This follow-up step is very important.
Penile Implants
If you have erectile dysfunction (ED), you're not alone. A VHC Health urologist will first suggest nonsurgical treatments, such as:
- Pills that improve blood flow
- Testosterone therapy if your levels are low
- Penile injections
- Intraurethral medication (a small, medicated insert)
- Vacuum erection devices
If these treatments don't work well enough, ask about a penile implant. This device goes in your body to help you get an erection. It doesn't increase sex drive, feeling, or size, but it can improve confidence and sexual performance.
How Penile Implants Work
The implant is hidden inside your body, so no one can see it from the outside. For inflatable implants, you squeeze a small pump in the scrotum. This moves fluid into the penis to create an erection. When finished, you release the pump, and your penis returns to its normal state. Many men like this option for its more natural timing and control.
Penile Implant Surgery
Your urologist will explain the types of implants, such as inflatable or semirigid, and help you choose what’s best for you. During surgery, the implant is placed inside the penis after you get anesthesia. Inflatable types also include a pump in the scrotum.
After surgery, you’ll receive clear home-care instructions. Swelling and soreness are common at first but improve over time. Your doctor will let you know when it’s safe to return to sexual activity.
Vasectomy Reversal
If you want to restore fertility after a vasectomy, your urologist may be able to reconnect the tubes that carry sperm. This outpatient surgery is called a vasectomy reversal. While many vasectomies can be reversed, success depends on factors like how much time has passed since the first procedure.
After surgery, your scrotum may feel sore, swollen, or bruised for up to two weeks. Rest and follow your doctor’s instructions to improve healing and your chances of success.
You’ll have semen tests each month for up to a year, or until pregnancy occurs. It may take several months for sperm to return.
Most insurance companies cover male reproductive treatments. Please check with your health insurance plan to understand your coverage.
