European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 13, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Steve scholar staff writer 66 Man controlling his own Fertility Quot is the Way a family practice physician at Sembach a Germany describes the purpose of vasectomies which Are now being performed at the base clinic. A. Or capt Daniel Weaver said the surgery Quot allows married and single men a better Opportunity to get a grasp on cutting the wait vasectomies Are performed at Many military facilities in All the a european countries where  service members Are stationed staffing and clinic size determine whether vasectomies Are available. Sen iceman who Are in an area where vasectomies Arentt offered Andare interested in having one Are referred to the nearest military facility where the operation is performed the waiting time for vasectomies which officials at the Sembach clinic Hopes to shorten a varies at different facilities at Lan Stuhl regional army medical facility in a Germany for example the wait can take up to one year. According to Marie Shaw a Lan Stuhl spokeswoman vasectomies fall into an elective surgical category known As routine Lour because higher priority categories Are seen first delays occur. Quot if a patient wants to get the Vasectomy done More quickly he can be referred to other clinics. That perform the surgery Quot she said. Officials at 7th medical come were unable to determine How Many vasectomies had been done in european army hospitals or clinics during the past year a Steve scholar decision that will affect them for their entire  the clinic recently began doing vasectomies because there were Long waiting timed at other european military medical facilities that performed the procedure and because two family practice physicians certified to do the 45-minute operation joined the staff. A screening appointment is the first step in having a Vasectomy at Sembach. Quot its important to meet with the patient and spouse or Girlfriend and let them know the procedure is virtually irreversible things we look for during the initial appointment Are maturity a stable relationship and the reason Why they Are contemplating the operation they need to know that the chances for reversing a Vasectomy decrease Over the years to almost Zero Quot Weaver said. The first appointment also is intended to set aside Many fears men have about the procedure. Often Weaver said the patients Are worried about the loss of their libido. Quot that s one of the things we discuss in the first appointment i Tell them right off that it in t True and most men experience no loss in sexual drive some men in fact experience a gain in drive because the fear of a pregnancy in their spouse is no longer prevalent Quot he said Weaver said that he does t always recommend a Vasectomy after talking with the patient. Quot some reasons i might feel uncomfortable include the age of a patient if. Its a Young married Man with no children or if there a any hint they May change their. Mind later Quot he said. However he quickly pointed out he does no to have the Tinai say and if the patient insists on a Vasectomy he will refer him to another doctor. That doctor will conduct a second screening and May ultimately agree to perform the operation. Basically the procedure requires a 1-centimeter incision in the scrotum where the left and right Vas deferent ducts Are found the ducts convey sperm from the testicle to the ejaculatory duct of the Penis the ducts Are Cut and the ends either tied off or burned to prevent sperm from a amp a. John to Hoof or. Daniel Weaver prepares to perform a Vasectomy at the Sembach clinic. Passing through the tubes. Weaver says the procedure is done on an outpatient basis and the postoperative a recovery is Quick the patient is usually out and about the Day following the surgery Quot usually the biggest postoperative complaint is just minor soreness Quot Weaver said. A. A in rare cases however complications occur. They Range from an Adverse reaction to local anaesthesia bleeding infection and permanent pain. Following the operation the patient is Given two to five Days of convalescent leave with instructions to keep the first Day s activity to a minimum. A follow up appointment is made to make sure the incision is Healing smoothly and there Are no complications doctors advise having two sperm tests As Well As continuing to use birth control precautions after the operation until tests indicate the sterilization was successful. A recent Vasectomy patient who is a father of four and who asked to be Anonymous said he was surprised at How Little pain there was. Quot i was up and around and moving slowly on the basketball court within a few Days of the procedure it was easier than i anticipated Quot he said. Weaver sees a Vasectomy As an integral part of family planning. If a person or couple Arentt prepared to bring a child into this world with All the implications and responsibilities that includes they should t. This new service gives those involved a Chance to make a Good decision Quot he  problems spreading to younger athletes by Ira Dreyfuss the associated press you Don t have to be a pro athlete to get a. Major knee injury. Researchers say kids Are racking up damage in youth sports Quot we Are now seeing a lot More serious injuries m she younger kids Quot said or. Lyle j. Micheli director of port s Medicine at children s Hospital in Boston. Quot were we missing those in the past or Art More occurring i Don t think we were missing  for instance injuries to the Anterior cruciate ligament which helps to hold the knee joint in place used to be rare in children. Micheli said. Quot now we re seeing them consistently seeing two or three  ,. Or. Carl l. Stamski of Detroit agreed that the trend seems to be up although he knows of no study to Back that up a a Stamski chief of orthopaedic surgery at children s a Hospital of Michigan recently reviewed the records of 70 severely injured patients Ages 7-18 whom he had treated for blood in the knee joint a condition known As Hemar Thyosis. About 80 percent were Hurt in sports he said. The Surprise is not that older athletes Are getting ligament injuries but that younger ones Are too Micheli said Quot the message is that if you put a kid into organized sports you can to depend on organized sport alone Quot to make sure they get proper exercise Micheli said. Coaches Are so Busy teaching technique that they done to have time to Lead a full workout he said. And kids done to get varied exercise in their Ordinary jives a they May need programs to make them More fit Mich ii said. Weight training can build stronger Bones tendons and Muscles even in the pre teen years said Wayne 1. Westcott strength training consultant for the National Myca and fitness director for the South Shore Myca in Quincy mass. A one doctoral study he supervised showed 65 percent to 78 percent increases in leg strength among 14 pre teens who worked out twice a week for two months Westcott a said a control group that did no such exercises gained 13 percent to 14 percent As a result of Normal growth a Westcott said. A however Stanitski said exercise ism guarantee that a child won t be injured. A. A child who complains of severe or lingering knee a problems should be seen soon by a specialist in the. Problems of Young Bones Stanitski said. A a. A Quot a lot get treatment a it la go away Quot he said. Quot a month water they Are still sore still done to move and still swollen and then you re saying maybe we should do  the wait feeds to stiffness loss of Range of motion and muscle atrophy which will make recovery take longer Stanitski said. A a. Treatment can include a custom Brace to stabilize the knee and a Sharp reduction in physical activity. Patients 18 or older May get adult style knee surgery. Page 20 a the stars and stripes wednesday january 13, 1993