What does a urologist do?
A urologist is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats conditions related to the male and female urinary systems, which filter blood in the body and remove waste and toxins in the form of urine. Urologists can diagnose and treat any problems related to the urinary system and its organs, including the ureters, bladder, kidneys, urethra, and adrenal glands, for individuals of all ages.
Urologists also treat medical issues related to the male reproductive system, including the penis, prostate, epididymis, vas deferens, and testes. They also receive training in surgery and can perform procedures to remove tumors, kidney stones, and strictures in the urethra and perform kidney transplants.
To become a urologist, aspirants must complete four years of medical school before completing four or five years of medical training. During this program, also known as a residency, trainees work alongside experienced urologists and learn surgical skills.
Some urologists may choose to do a fellowship where they undergo additional training in a chosen specialty. There are various urological subspecialties focusing on specific conditions or groups. A few of the common specialties within urology are as follows:
- Urogynecologists: Specialists who treat female-specific problems like urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
- Andrologists: Doctors who diagnose and treat male-specific reproductive conditions, urinary problems, and cancer.
- Pediatric urologists are doctors who treat and manage urinary problems in children, such as bedwetting, urinary tract blockages, and genital issues.
- Urologic oncologists are specialists who can treat cancers associated with the urinary tract and male reproductive systems.
- Reconstructive urologists: Surgical specialists who restore the normal function of the urinary tract and some reproductive organs.
After training, urologists must complete the examination requirements for certification from the American Board of Urology.
What is the difference between a urologist and a nephrologist?
If you need to consult a doctor specifically focused on kidney-related issues, you should schedule an appointment with a nephrologist. Nephrology comes within the realm of internal medicine rather than urology. It is important to note that nephrologists do not perform surgical procedures; instead, they are trained to manage conditions affecting the kidneys or arising from kidney problems, such as hypertension.
Urologists specialize in surgical interventions and handle a broader spectrum of urinary system and reproductive organ issues. Therefore, depending on the nature of your kidney-related ailment, you need to seek consultation with either a nephrologist or a urologist near you accordingly.
What is a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a significant bacterial infection that affects the different parts of the urinary system, including the ureters, kidneys, bladder, and urethra. Most UTIs primarily affect the lower urinary tract, such as the bladder and urethra. They can lead to discomfort and, if left untreated, potentially lead to more severe complications, mainly if the infection spreads to the kidneys.
Healthcare providers typically treat UTIs with antibiotics and advise individuals on preventive measures to mitigate the likelihood of recurring infections. These interventions aim to alleviate symptoms and promote urinary tract health.
It is important to note that UTIs in older adults might be easily missed or confused with other health conditions. If you experience these symptoms, you should consult a trusted urologist near you for proper diagnosis and treatment.
The main reason behind urinary tract infections is a type of bacteria called E. coli. These bacteria are primarily found in your large intestine, where they live naturally. They are responsible for more than 90% of bladder infections, causing discomfort and trouble. Treating UTIs involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria and ease symptoms, but preventing them is also important through good hygiene and drinking plenty of fluids.
Tips to prevent UTIs
Here is a brief on how to prevent urinary tract infections:
- Drink plenty of fluids: Ample fluids help keep bladder tissue hydrated and healthy. They dilute urine and reduce the concentration of bacteria in the bladder. Experts highlight that drinking fluids like water alone can naturally cure infections. Drinking 50 ounces or 1.5 liters of fluids daily can keep infections at bay.
- Empty your bladder often: Sometimes, people hold their urine. The reasons can be many, from not having a washroom nearby to just being lazy. However, if it becomes a habit, it can cause more harm than good to your body. When urine sits in your bladder for a long time, it provides an excellent environment for bacterial growth, as bacteria thrive in warm and wet spaces. Thus, regularly emptying it is essential. Make sure to empty your bladder at least four to eight times daily.
- Wipe front to back: Wipe front to back after urinating and having a bowel movement. It prevents anal region bacteria from spreading to your vagina and urethra
- Urinate soon after sex: Having intercourse can result in bacteria entering or getting close to the urethra. The urethra is the small tube responsible for emptying your bladder. Besides, urinating soon after sex can eliminate bacteria before it can cause an infection.
- Take cranberry supplements: There is not much evidence to show how cranberry supplements can help prevent UTIs. However, there is still a reasonable biological mechanism that indicates their effectiveness. Consider using a concentrated over-the-counter cranberry supplement instead of cranberry juice if you want this option. The supplement is more beneficial because it has a reduced sugar amount compared to the juice.
If these tips don’t help or you want personalized advice, talk to a urologist.
When would you need to see a urologist?
Your primary provider will refer you to a urologist if you are experiencing recurring troublesome symptoms related to your urinary tract, such as:
- Blood in urine
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Cloudy and smelly urine
- Pelvic pain
These symptoms indicate a possible urinary tract infection (UTI). Women are often more susceptible to UTIs than men as they have shorter urethra, which makes it easier for the bacteria to enter the bladder. Women will likely have urinary incontinence or lose bladder control since pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause impact the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. Other causes of urinary incontinence are neurological disorders, aging, enlarged prostate, and prostate cancer treatment.
Women may also experience pelvic organ prolapse, where the pelvic organs bulge into the vagina. Although this condition is not threatening to life, it causes:
- Pain in the lower back
- Painful sex
- Urinary incontinence
- Constipation
The most common causes are pregnancy, childbirth, obesity, and hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
For men, urologists can treat conditions such as:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Male infertility
- Enlarged prostate gland
- Cancers of reproductive organs such as the testicles and prostate
Urologists also treat kidney conditions such as kidney stones, cysts, infection, cancer, and chronic kidney disease that can damage your kidneys.
Urologists also treat children with issues such as:
- Bedwetting
- Undescended testicles
- Urinary and bowel incontinence is especially seen in those with congenital deformities such as Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy
If you are experiencing any symptoms, it is advised that you visit a urologist near you. Prompt intervention by a specialist can help relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
What can you expect from the appointment?
During the first appointment, your urologist will ask about your medical history and may conduct a physical exam. They may also order tests such as:
- Imaging tests: CT scans, MRI scans, and ultrasound tests are used to locate the problem.
- Cystoscopy: A long, thin probe with a camera is used to see inside the urinary tract or remove a sample tissue for testing.
- Urine test: Urine samples help the urologist check for bacteria or other diseases.
- Biopsy: Urologists conduct a biopsy to check for cancer and other disorders.
- Urodynamic testing: Testing how quickly the urine leaves the body, how much urine stays in the bladder, and how much pressure there is in the bladder.
Once diagnosed, a treatment plan is devised based on the condition. Your urologist may prescribe medications such as:
- Antibiotics for infections
- Drugs for chemotherapy
- Drugs that perform on the smooth muscle of the bladder to reduce urinary incontinence
- Hormone treatment for prostate cancer
- Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for erectile dysfunction, such as Cialis or Tadalafil
Certain conditions require surgery. Your urologist may recommend surgery to:
- Remove a tumor or the entire prostate, bladder, or any part of cancer cases
- Repair parts after trauma
- Treat strictures in the urethra caused by scar tissue
- Treat stress incontinence
- Break or remove kidney stones
- Remove part of the kidney
- Transplant a kidney
- Circumcise the penis
- Perform a vasectomy (a form of male contraception)
Some common urological procedures a urologist near you can perform include:
- Vasectomy: A surgical procedure that seals the vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) for permanent male birth control.
- Vasectomy reversal: A process of undoing vasectomy and reconnecting the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm). After this procedure, men may be able to father children again.
- Cystoscopy: A diagnostic procedure to check the lining of the bladder and urethra for diagnosing and treating bladder conditions and enlarged prostate.
- Circumcision: It involves the surgical removal of the foreskin on the penis for easy hygiene and to alleviate the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and penile cancer.
- Ureteroscopy: It is a procedure to diagnose and treat kidney stones.
- Nephrectomy: Surgical removal of the kidney to treat kidney cancer, non-cancerous tumors, or a severely damaged or diseased kidney.
- Lithotripsy: A non-invasive medical procedure that uses high-energy shock waves to break kidney stones so they can exit the urinary tract more easily.
- Orchiopexy: A surgery to move the undescended testicle into the scrotum and permanently attach it.
- Prostate biopsy: This is a process to remove samples of suspicious prostate tissues for examination. This process helps detect prostate cancer.
- Pelvic floor muscle therapy: A group of exercises to strengthen the muscles under the uterus, urinary bladder, and bowel. This form of physical therapy helps treat urinary and bowel incontinence.
How can you find the best urologist near you in Pompano Beach?
Urological problems affect both men and women, irrespective of their age. Many may feel embarrassed to seek help, but delaying treatment worsens the symptoms. Furthermore, prolonging these conditions may affect your mental health too. Reproductive problems like erectile dysfunction or infertility can affect your relationship with your partner. It is, therefore, imperative to seek medical help from a well-qualified urologist.
With Zocdoc, booking an appointment with the best urologist nearby is convenient and fast. Just visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition, location, preferred date, and insurance details to find the desired urologist in Pompano Beach. To refine your search, use filters such as time of consultation, gender, languages, hospital affiliations, and whether the practitioners treat children.
If you need clarification on your healthcare plan, use the insurance finder available on the website. Besides, adding an image of your medical insurance card can help simplify finding in-network providers. However, it is not mandatory, and if you still want to pick your plan from the provided list manually, then you are free to do so. For any insurance-related queries, visit Zocdoc’s patient help center.
All practitioners on Zocdoc have dedicated profiles with information about their education and training, experience, professional memberships and board certifications, and office location. Furthermore, you can also read verified patient reviews to make an informed decision. Once you have chosen a practitioner, you can book in-person and virtual consultations.
Getting the best urologist near you is easy, secure, and 100% free on Zocdoc.
Vital statistics on urologic cancers in Florida
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that between 2017 and 2021, nearly 79,751 men were detected with prostate cancer in Florida, meaning about 103.1 men per 100,000 men. Around 2,735 Floridan men (16.9 per 100,000) died of prostate cancer in 2022. The report also stated that 30,932 people were diagnosed with urinary bladder cancer between 2017 and 2021, of which 23,778 were men. 1,107 men died from this cancer during this period.
The American Cancer Society estimated about 24,090 new prostate cancer cases and 2,800 prostate cancer-related deaths in Florida in 2024. The organization also stated that the incidence rate of testicular cancer between 2016 and 2020 was 5.0 per 100,000 men.
The American Cancer Society estimates for kidney and renal pelvis cancer in 2024 in Florida was 5,760 new cases and 1,070 deaths.
These numbers highlight the need for individuals to prioritize their urologic health and seek timely medical intervention. Taking proactive steps toward your well-being can make a significant difference in preserving health.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Mayo Clinic
Healthline
WebMD
Medical News Today
Alliance Urology Specialists
Urology Associates
American Cancer Society
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mayo Clinic Health System
