What is urology?
Urology is the specialty of medicine dealing with surgical and non-surgical diseases of the urinary tract system and the reproductive organs, including the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, adrenal glands, and the male reproductive organs.
Urine, composed of waste and water, is released through the drainage system of the urinary tract. Various diseases can manifest in the urinary system, like Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), kidney stones, bladder control issues, and prostate problems. Urology is a vast field dealing with such conditions. It includes seven subspecialties, according to the American Urological Association:
1) Pediatric urology
2) Urological oncology
3) Renal (kidney) transplant
4) Male infertility
5) Female urology
6) Neurourology
7) Minimally invasive surgery
Who is a urologist?
If something disturbs the functioning of your urinary tract, you might have to visit a urologist. A urologist is a medical expert specializing in diagnosing and treating UTIs (urinary tract conditions) in patients of all ages.
They study all the parts of the urinary system, including the kidney, bladder, ureters (muscles carrying urine into the bladder), and urethra (drains urine out of the bladder), and also treat conditions in the male reproductive system, comprising the penis, testes, scrotum, and prostate.
You can consult your urologist if you have chronic problems like kidney stones, prostate cancer, or long-term conditions with the urinary tract.
What kind of education and training do urologists receive?
To become a urologist, complete a bachelor's degree and then clear a test to get into medical school. You'll study for about four years in medical school to earn your medical degree.
After that, you'll spend five to six years in a special training program called a residency. During this time, you'll learn how to treat diseases related to the urinary system. If you want to focus on a specific area within urology, you can do extra training called a fellowship, which might take one to three more years. Once you finish your residency, you may become board-certified by passing an American Board of Urology exam.
Finally, you'll need to pass a state medical exam and meet specific requirements the medical board sets to start practicing as a urologist.
Is a urologist and a nephrologist the same?
If you need to see a doctor specializing in kidneys, you should schedule an appointment with a nephrologist. Nephrologists focus on kidney health, but they're not surgeons like urologists.
Nephrologists are experts in internal medicine, which means they treat kidney problems and other related conditions, such as high blood pressure.
What is the difference between a urologist, a gynecologist, and a urogynecologist?
Like the name implies, a “uro-gynecologist” diagnoses and treats conditions that intersect with those handled by urologists and gynecologists. Depending on your specific condition, these providers may collaborate in your treatment:
- Urologists diagnose and treat conditions affecting your urinary system, encompassing your bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra. They address urinary conditions across all sexes. Additionally, they diagnose and treat conditions related to the male reproductive system.
- Gynecologists diagnose and treat conditions impacting the female reproductive system. They also monitor breast health. Some urinary system conditions may fall within their diagnostic and treatment scope.
- Urogynecologists specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions stemming from an injured or weak pelvic floor, known as pelvic floor disorders. Similar to a gynecologist, they address pelvic floor disorders affecting the female reproductive system. Akin to a urologist, they can also treat problems involving your bladder or urethra.
When should you see a urologist?
You may consider consulting a urologist if you experience :
- Difficulty urinating, like having a strong or weak flow, pain while urinating, or blood in the urine
- Changes in the patterns of urination, such as frequency
- Problems with erection
- Accidental leakage of urine, like when you sneeze, cough, or laugh
Urologists can prescribe medication, perform various procedures to treat conditions and teach techniques to strengthen the pelvic muscles, which is known as behavior training. They tend to several disorders of the urinary system, which can be short or long-term, and devise appropriate treatment plans and strategies based on individual needs. Some of the issues treated by a urologist are interstitial cystitis, cancers of the kidneys, bladders, and prostate, erectile dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, and congenital urinary tract issues.
Urinary problems in women
Urinary problems depend on the individual and their lifestyle quality. Urinary problems are common in women, but some are severely affected by small amounts of leakage. Factors like daily activity, location, and work environment determine the need for treatment. Some women do not face much difficulty in their urinary system, even with mild problems. However, if the problem persists long, you may have to consider a minimal or non-invasive treatment.
What should you expect from your first urology appointment?
A primary care physician or family doctor may refer you to the best urologist near you if you have pelvic pain, urinating, or sexual problems. Your doctor might conduct a combination of tests to make the diagnoses accurate and point to the appropriate treatment.
On your first appointment, you may need to complete a questionnaire about your problems, biodata, medical history, active medications, allergies, and social history. A urine specimen will be tested and analyzed only with a full bladder. After the test, the doctor may perform a physical and pelvic examination and will discuss the questionnaire with you to formulate a treatment plan.
What is a urodynamic test?
A urodynamic test measures bladder sensation and activity and helps the doctor accurately diagnose your problem. Urologists insert a catheter into the urethra and the rectum, measuring the pressures in these areas. It is then slowly filled with a liquid to replicate urine in the bladder, and you might need to cough or strain to urinate during the study. This test takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is a risk-free and interactive test performed to analyze variations in your symptoms.
What kind of treatments does a urologist offer?
Urologists can suggest various treatments and procedures like behavior training, where you strengthen your pelvic muscle exercises to help with urine control.
They can also perform techniques such as:
1. Nephrectomy: Surgery to remove a kidney, often done to treat kidney cancer.
2. Cystoscopy: A close examination of the bladder and urethra using a special tool called a cystoscope.
3. Vasectomy: A procedure to prevent pregnancy by cutting the tubes that carry sperm.
4. Ureteroscopy: Similar to cystoscopy, but it examines the ureters and kidneys.
5. Prostate biopsy: Taking a small tissue sample from the prostate to check for cancer.
These procedures can range from simple office visits to more complex surgeries performed in a hospital setting.
What tests and screenings do urologists recommend?
During your visit to a urologist near you, they may recommend certain tests and screenings based on your symptoms, age, medical history, and other factors. Some examples include:
- Urinalysis: A test that analyzes the appearance, concentration, and content of a urine sample.
- Urine cultures: A test to check for bacteria in your urine and determine which antibiotics may be effective.
- 24-hour urine test: A test in which you collect urine over a 24-hour period for analysis of certain substances.
- PSA test: This blood test measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, commonly used for prostate cancer screening.
- Other blood tests: The urologist may order a blood test to assess your kidney function by examining the presence of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). If you have symptoms of erectile dysfunction, a testosterone blood test may be ordered since low testosterone is a common cause of ED.
- Imaging tests: Your doctor might order an X-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, or cystoscopy to examine your kidneys, bladder, ureters, testicles, prostate, or other parts of your urinary system.
- Seminogram: A test to analyze a semen sample and assess sperm quality, motility, and quantity compared with normal semen.
How can you keep a healthy urinary system?
You can adopt simple habits that may lower your risk of urinary tract issues, such as kidney stones and infections.
- Stay hydrated: Your kidneys filter the water you drink, which builds up in your bladder until you urinate. Lack of water consumption can cause the urine in the bladder to become concentrated, which can cause strong odors or irritate the bladder. The concentrated urine may increase your risk of kidney stones and bladder infections. A daily water intake of 10 to 12 glasses may benefit those prone to infections or kidney stones.
- Consider lowering your caffeine intake: Caffeinated drinks may aggravate your bladder and act as a diuretic (raise your desire to urinate by increasing your urine output). You may need to urinate more frequently the more coffee you consume caffeine. Moreover, excessive caffeine may cause dehydration, raising your likelihood of developing kidney stones, bladder infections, and other issues.
- When exercising or exposed to the sun, drink more water: On hot, bright days, and when you work out, you lose water through sweat. Therefore, drinking the right amount of water in such situations is necessary.
- Urinate and clean yourself before and after sex: Before and after sexual contact, urinate to reduce the chance of acquiring bacteria that can enter the urinary tract during sex. Women have shorter urethras than men, which increases the likelihood of urinary tract infections after sex. This makes it easy for bacteria to enter the urinary tract (although not all women can have infections). Men can also contract urinary tract infections and spread bacteria to women, though this is uncommon. Men should clean their groin area as part of good personal hygiene, as the groin is a key source of bacteria.
How do you find the best urologist near you in Roswell, GA?
People are often embarrassed to talk about urology issues, but knowing that these conditions are widespread and successful treatment is possible is essential. To receive the best care and guidance, being honest with your doctor and having an open conversation about your health issues is vital.
Zocdoc can help you find the best urologist in Roswell, Georgia, from the comfort of your home. To begin your search, type your symptoms, location, date, insurance carrier plan, or doctor's specialty, and the results will show you a list of doctors. You can visit the unique profile of every doctor to read about their academic background, medical experience, research interests, languages they speak, availability, and gender.
When choosing an in-network doctor, you can trust Zocdoc to keep your health insurance information safe per the industry's best practices. For any insurance-related queries, reach out to Zocdoc's patient help center.
You can decide on the best urologist by using all the information available on Zocdoc and reading the verified reviews and ratings from previous patients. You may then book an in-person or virtual appointment based on your provider's availability. Just look for the purple icon on the profile of urologists who allow such video consultations.
Depending on the urologist's availability, you can book appointments before, during, or after office hours. If the urologist's schedule permits, you can also book appointments on weekends and holidays.
Booking appointments with urologists near you through Zocdoc is simple, free, and secure!
Urology statistics for Georgia
According to The State of Urology Workforce and Practice in the United States 2019 report by the American Urological Association, the United States consists of 13,044 urologists, 85.6% actively practicing. In Georgia, there are 356 active urologists.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) states that the two most widespread causes of kidney diseases in the United States are diabetes and high blood pressure. Almost 1 in 7 American adults (37 million) suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), nearly 1 in 3 people have diabetes, and 1 in 5 have high blood pressure. Despite the high prevalence of these diseases, 9 in 10 people with CKD are unaware that they have the disease.
The American Cancer Society estimated about 63,170 new cancer cases and 18,740 cancer deaths in Georgia in 2024. The data further stated there will be roughly 299,010 prostate cancer cases and 35,250 prostate cancer deaths in the US in the same year.
Sources
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases[1]
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases[2]
Urology Care Foundation
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
WebMD
University of Florida Health
American Cancer Society
VeryWellHealth
Because Market
