Urology is the study of urine. A urologist is a medical doctor and surgical specialist who specializes in diseases and conditions of the urinary tract in men, women, and children and the male reproductive system.
A urologist is a physician who has been specially trained to diagnose and treat any condition related to the urinary system and the male reproductive system.
A urologist treats conditions related to the urinary system, which is made up of the:
They also treat disorders related to the male reproductive system:
These conditions may include kidney stones, cancers, infections, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic floor abnormalities.
A urologist is a trained surgeon. They use medical and surgical treatments to treat conditions that affect the urinary system or the male reproductive system. Some urologists sub-specialize and limit their practice to:
Like a urologist, a nephrologist is a specialist. However, a nephrologist limits their practice to treating diseases and conditions that affect the kidney. Nephrology is a subspecialty of internal medicine, and therefore nephrologists are not trained to do surgical procedures. Instead, nephrologists use non-surgical treatment methods, such as dialysis, medications, regulating fluids, electrolytes, and blood pressure. Urologists are surgeons.
Urologists treat a wide range of medical and surgical conditions of the urinary and reproductive system, including:
Urologists treat infections in the urinary and reproductive systems, including:
Urologists treat conditions that are related to malfunctions, aging, or maldevelopment of the urinary or reproductive systems, including:
Urologists work with nephrologists to treat diseases and conditions that affect the kidney, such as:
Cancers can develop in both the urinary and reproductive systems. Common examples include:
Both the urinary and reproductive systems can be affected when testosterone hormone levels are abnormal, including:
If the urologist suspects a structural cause for your symptoms, they may order imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI scans, or an ultrasound to help identify the problem.
A cystoscope is a tube with a camera on the end that can be used to see the inside of the urethra and bladder. It can also be used to take a small sample of the tissue, called a biopsy.
For urinary symptoms, urodynamic testing can check how fast and how completely urine leaves the body, how much remains in the bladder after urinating, and how much pressure there is in the bladder.
If a structural problem is identified, a urologist can perform surgery to relieve obstruction, biopsy tissue, or correct a malformation. Surgery can be:
You may choose to make an appointment with a urologist directly or be referred by your primary care physician. With a referral, a urologist will have access to the notes the referring physician has sent along with the results of any labs or tests.
The urologist will ask questions about your current symptoms, past medical history, medical conditions, family history, medication use, and lifestyle factors that may increase your risk of urinary or kidney disease. For example, if you consult with a urologist about erectile dysfunction, the urologist will ask questions that may provide clues about what is causing ED.
The next step may be to request a urine sample and hormone levels to evaluate for common causes of ED. For example, the standard male hormone test measures total testosterone levels, estrogen, prostate-specific antigen, and cardiovascular risk factors.
Once these lab results are available for your urologist to review, they will probably discuss lifestyle modifications you can make to decrease your risk of ED, such as
Your doctor will also tell you about the wide range of ED treatment options available. The American Urological Association encourages men to participate in the process of shared decision-making to choose the best ED treatment option for them, whether it is ED pills or injectables such as Trimix injection.
Trimix Injections
Trimix Injections are used as a second-line treatment when oral ED medications don’t work.
Learn About Trimix InjectionsTreatment is not the final step. It is important to follow up with your urologist to discuss how the medication is working for you and to report any side effects you may be experiencing. There are many treatment options for ED and other conditions associated with the urinary and reproductive systems. It may require a process of trial and error to determine which is the best choice.
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DISCLAIMER
While we strive to always provide accurate, current, and safe advice in all of our articles and guides, it’s important to stress that they are no substitute for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare provider. You should always consult a practicing professional who can diagnose your specific case. The content we’ve included in this guide is merely meant to be informational and does not constitute medical advice.