What is urology?
Urology is a medical specialty that examines men's and women's urinary systems and male genitalia. Many human organs collectively make up each of these bodily parts.
The human urinary system consists of:
- kidneys that create urine by filtering waste from the blood;
- ureters, which are thin tubes connecting the kidneys and the urinary bladder;
- urinary bladder, a hollow sac-shaped organ that stores urine;
- urethra, a tube that transports pee from the bladder to the outside;
- triangular-shaped adrenal glands located on top of both kidneys release hormones to help regulate metabolism, the immune system, and blood pressure.
The male reproductive system consists of:
- a penis, an organ that excretes urine and sperm out of the body;
- prostate gland, located under the urinary bladder in males, generates fluid to transport the sperm;
- testicles, two oval-shaped organs that produce testosterone and sperm.
Who are urologists?
Urologists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and curing diseases and infections caused by the human urinary and male reproductive systems. They are experts in internal medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology. They typically practice in hospitals, private clinics, or urology centers.
What kind of education and training do urologists receive?
To become a urologist, you must first earn a four-year college degree, and then follow this with four years of medical school. After medical school, you will undergo four to five years of medical training at a hospital known as a residency, where you will work alongside experienced urologists and develop surgical skills.
Some urologists pursue additional training through a fellowship, which typically lasts one to two years. This allows them to specialize in areas such as urologic oncology or female urology.
Upon completing their training, urologists must pass the specialty certification exam for urology. The American Board of Urology grants certification to those who successfully pass the exam.
What conditions do urologists treat?
Urologists can treat all urinary tract illnesses in both men and women. Patients consult urologists for various conditions, including urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, kidney and bladder stones, and infertility. They can also treat cancers: in the kidney, urinary bladder, prostate, adrenal glands, testicles, and penis.
Beyond urinary diseases, urologists specialize in treating issues with male genitalia, such as erectile dysfunction, infertility in men, and bedwetting and undescended testicles in children.
What are the diagnostic tests ordered by urologists?
The urinary system can work properly when the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra coordinate and function harmoniously. As there are several possible reasons for dysfunction of the urinary system, the tests used for diagnosing these conditions also vary accordingly.
Standard diagnostic tests ordered by urologists are:
- Laboratory tests - urine and blood tests. Urine and blood samples are collected and tested in the laboratory to detect the presence and number of microbial organisms.
- Imaging studies - these enable doctors to get a detailed view of the urinary tract. These tests help diagnose abnormalities in the gastrointestinal system, cancers like prostate and adrenal tumors, and blockages such as kidney and bladder stones. Standard imaging tests include pyelogram (X-ray of pelvis and ureter), cystography (a contrast dye is injected into the urinary bladder using a catheter, and then images are taken to diagnose problems in the bladder), CT scan & ultrasound of the kidneys, sonogram of the rectal or prostate region, and renal angiogram (imaging test used to study the issues in the blood vessels such as aneurysms and stenosis in the kidneys).
- Cystometry - one of the tests used to examine urine flow. Water is injected into the urine bladder while a catheter detects the pressure. This test aids in determining how well the urine bladder fills and empties.
What procedures can urologists perform?
Urologists can perform a variety of surgical procedures, which may include:
- Biopsies of the bladder, kidneys, or prostate
- Cystectomy - the removal of the bladder, typically to treat cancer
- Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy - a procedure to break up kidney stones for easier removal
- Kidney transplant - replace a diseased kidney with a healthy one
- Procedures to open blockages
- Repairing damage caused by injury
- Correcting poorly-formed urinary organs
- Prostatectomy - to remove all or part of the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer
- Sling procedure - using mesh strips to support the urethra and treat urinary incontinence
- Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) - procedure to remove excess tissue from an enlarged prostate
- Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) of the prostate to remove excess tissue from an enlarged prostate
- Ureteroscopy - using a scope to remove stones from the kidneys and ureter
- Vasectomy - a procedure to prevent pregnancy by cutting and tying the vas deferens, the tube through which sperm travel to produce semen
When should you see a urologist near you?
When people experience any of the following symptoms in their urinary system, they should contact a urologist:
- burning sensation or discomfort during urination
- cloudy or dark-colored urine
- blood in the urine
- a constant urge to urinate but difficulty performing it
- urinary leakage
- pelvic and lower back pain
Urologists also treat male reproductive concerns such as a lump in the testicle, erection difficulty, and reduced sexual desire.
How should you prepare for your first appointment with a urologist?
Before meeting a urologist for the first time, make a list of the following:
- All your signs and symptoms
- List of existing health issues
- Medication history (this involves prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and other herbal supplements)
- Surgical history (reports from any surgeries or procedures that you have undergone in the past)
- Key personal information (including any recent significant life changes)
- Questions for the urologist
Tips for maintaining good urological health
It is impossible to stop the development of all urological diseases. However, people can lower the risk of contracting these diseases by making a few lifestyle and hygiene adjustments. These easy precautions can avoid some urinary tract conditions, including infections and kidney stones.
- Whenever you feel the urge to urinate, empty your bladder. Never hold onto urine and pee in a relaxed position. After a bowel movement, women should wipe from front to back to avert bacteria from entering the urethra.
- Perform kegel exercises or pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic region. These exercises help prevent urine leakage and infections.
- Peeing post-coitus and cleaning the urethral region helps stop the bacteria from populating in the urethra.
- To prevent moisture from getting trapped, use loose-fitting clothes and cotton underwear.
- Eliminate sodas and spicy foods, avoid caffeine and alcohol, consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and drink enough fluids, especially water, to maintain good health.
- Quit habits such as smoking to control bladder problems and decrease the risk of bladder cancer.
While most urinary problems are preventable, there is no known technique to reduce the chance of acquiring prostate or adrenal cancer fully. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among males in the US, affecting 13 out of every 100 men.
What is prostate cancer? Who is at risk of developing it?
Prostate cancer is a kind of cancer that first develops in the cells of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is one of the cancers that affect males most often in the US. Most of the time, the tumor is contained in the prostate gland and does not spread to other organs. When confined to the gland, surgeons can remove it entirely, giving patients the best chance of survival. In some cases, however, it may spread to other parts of the body, where the success rate of the treatment drastically reduces.
The majority of men over 50 are at risk of acquiring prostate cancer. Men of African American heritage and those with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to get this cancer.
Screening for prostate cancer
Testing for prostate cancer entails looking for the disease before any symptoms appear. Prostate cancer screening procedures frequently include PSA testing and digital rectal examinations (DRE). Before making a choice, be careful to talk with your urologist about the risks, advantages, and restrictions of prostate cancer screening treatments.
If prostate cancer screening results are positive, additional tests are needed to confirm prostate cancer. Imaging studies like transrectal ultrasound and MRI scans detect cancer in the prostate glands. A prostate biopsy is the only sure technique to determine whether the organ contains cancerous cells.
What is a chronic urinary tract infection?
A chronic urinary tract infection is an infection in the urinary tract that either doesn't respond to treatment or consistently returns. These infections may persist even after receiving the proper treatment or reappear after an initial successful treatment.
A UTI can impact any part of your urinary system. The infection gets easily treated when it only spreads to the bladder. However, if it extends to the kidneys, it can lead to severe health consequences, possibly requiring hospitalization. While UTIs can occur at any age, they affect women the most.
The signs of a chronic urinary tract infection impacting your bladder are:
- frequent urination
- crimson or dark urine
- burning when urinating
- pain in the kidneys (lower back or below ribs)
- bladder pain
If the UTI spreads to your kidneys, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, chills, a fever higher than 101°F (38°C), fatigue, and mental disorientation.
If you suffer from a chronic UTI, you have most likely had one before. The most common way to diagnose UTIs is to do lab tests on urine samples. A medical practitioner will examine the urine sample under a microscope for evidence of bacteria.
In a urine culture test, a technician places a urine sample in a tube to promote bacterial growth. After one to three days, they will assess the bacteria to determine the most effective treatment.
If your doctor suspects kidney damage, they might ask for X-rays and scans.
Your doctor may also recommend a cystoscopy if you have frequent urinary tract infections. This procedure involves the use of a cystoscope, a long, thin tube with a lens at the end. It is used to examine the urethra and bladder. Your doctor will search for any abnormalities or concerns that could be causing the UTI to recur.
Locate the best urologist near you in Indianapolis
The meticulously researched database at Zocdoc can help you find the best urologists in Indianapolis. You don't even need an account to access the information on the Zocdoc website. For instance, if you observe blood in your urine and want to see a urologist, type "blood in urine," "Urologist," "Indianapolis," your preferred date for an appointment, and your medical insurance provider. Zocdoc will immediately take you to a page listing the best urologists in Indianapolis.
All doctors listed on Zocdoc have their profile pages, which have all information about their qualifications, accreditations, certifications, work experience, awards received, and verified patient reviews. The page also lists all the insurance providers in a drop-down menu. Select your insurance, and you will immediately know if the urologist of your choice is in-network.
If you're looking for urologists who accept your insurance, our online patient support center is here to help. On Zocdoc, you can connect your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans directly to your account, though you can use only one insurance plan for each appointment.
If you have multiple insurance plans, there's no need to worry. You can add details about your secondary insurance in the appointment notes. Additionally, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can easily input your secondary insurance information to simplify the process.
Booking in-person or online appointments with urologists near you on Zocdoc is fast, free, and secure!
Urology statistics in Indianapolis, USA
Urological disorders such as UTIs can be uncomfortable and painful; however, when left untreated, they can lead to severe complications in the kidneys. The Indiana University School of Medicine estimates kidney stones occur in at least 10% of the population.
As published in a report by the Indiana State Department of Health, in 2014, 2,687 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. Of every 100,00 males, 72.9 of them had prostate cancer. Of these, 603 died from it in the same year, taking the mortality rate to 20.2 for 2014.
In Indiana, there will be 5,020 new instances of prostate cancer detected in 2022, according to an article from the American Cancer Society. Out of these, 770 are most likely to die from the illness.
Sources
Healthline
Urology Care Foundation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WebMD
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
American Cancer Society[1]
Indiana University School of Medicine
American Cancer Society[2]
Indiana State Department of Health
Healthline[2]
