Urology

Urology

Urology is the field of medicine that focuses on diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive tract. Urologists treat general diseases of the urinary tract. Others specialize in a particular type of urology, such as:

• Female urology, which focuses on conditions of a woman’s reproductive and urinary tract
• Male infertility, which focuses on problems that prevent a man from conceiving a baby with his partner
• Neurourology, which focuses on urinary problems due to conditions of the nervous system
• Pediatric urology, which focuses on urinary problems in children
• Urologic oncology, which focuses on cancers of the urinary system, including the bladder, kidneys, prostate, and testicles

Urologists diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary tract in both men and women. They also diagnose and treat anything involving the reproductive tract in men. The urinary tract is the system that creates, stores, and removes urine from the body. Urologists can treat any part of this system. This includes the:

• Kidneys, which are the organs that filter waste out of the blood to produce urine
• Ureters, which are the tubes through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder
• Bladder, which is the hollow sac that stores urine
• Urethra, which is the tube through which urine travels from the bladder out of the body
• Adrenal glands, which are the glands located on top of each kidney that release hormones

Urologists treat a wide variety of conditions that affect the urinary system and male reproductive system. Urologists treat:

• Cancers of the bladder, kidneys, penis, testicles, and adrenal and prostate glands
• Prostate gland enlargement
• Erectile dysfunction, or trouble getting or keeping an erection
• Infertility
• Interstitial cystitis, also called painful bladder syndrome
• Kidney diseases
• Kidney stones
• Prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Varicoceles, or enlarged veins in the scrotum

In women, urologists treat:

• Bladder prolapse, or the dropping of the bladder into the vagina
• Cancers of the bladder, kidneys, and adrenal glands
• Interstitial cystitis
• Kidney stones
• Overactive bladder
• UTIs
• Urinary incontinence

In children, urologists treat :

• Bed-wetting
• Blockages and other problems with the urinary tract structure
• Undescended testicles

Urologists are also trained to perform different types of surgery. This may include performing:

• Biopsies of the bladder, kidneys, or prostate
• A cystectomy, which involves removing the bladder, to treat cancer
• Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, which involves breaking up kidney stones so they can remove them more easily
• A procedure to open a blockage
• A repair of damage due to injury
• A repair of urinary organs that aren’t well-formed
• A prostatectomy, which involves removing all or part of the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer
• A sling procedure, which involves using strips of mesh to support the urethra and keep it closed to treat urinary incontinence
• A transurethral resection of the prostate, which involves removing excess tissue from an enlarged prostate
• A transurethral needle ablation of the prostate, which involves removing excess tissue from an enlarged prostate
• A ureteroscopy, which involves using a scope to remove stones in the kidneys and ureter
• A vasectomy to prevent pregnancy, which involves cutting and tying the vas deferens, or the tube sperm travel through to produce semen

Urologists can work with you to help diagnose and treat if you are having below mentioned symptoms suggests you have a problem in the urinary tract:

• Blood in your urine
• A frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Pain in your lower back, pelvis, or sides
• Pain or burning during urination
• Trouble urinating
• Urine leakage
• Weak urine flow, dribbling