Urology Specialist

What is urology?

Urology is a medical specialty focusing on the health of your urinary tract. Your urinary tract starts at your kidneys, goes down through two tubes, called ureters, from your kidneys to your bladder, and down your urethra. This is the case in both men and women.

If you’re a man, urology also deals with the health of your reproductive organs, including your penis, testes, and prostate. The urology team at Associated Surgical Center diagnoses and treats conditions in both of these systems. 

When should I visit a urologist?

You should visit a urologist any time you notice any unusual symptoms associated with your urine or your urinary tract. Some symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore when they arise include:

• Bloody urine
• Burning while urinating
• Frequent urination
• Inability to hold in your urine
• Inability to urinate

Additionally, men should make a urology appointment at Associated Surgical Center if they have these symptoms involving their reproductive organs:

• Trouble getting an erection
• Trouble maintaining an erection
• Fertility problems
• Pain in the testicles
• A lump or mass in the testicles

Your primary care provider might refer you to a urologist if your prostate exam yields abnormal results during your annual physical exam. 

What are some common urological conditions?

The urology team at Associated Surgical Center is equipped to diagnose, treat, and manage many common urological conditions, including:

• Urinary tract infections
• Urinary incontinence
• Kidney infections
• Kidney stones
• Overactive bladder
• Internal cystitis (painful bladder syndrome)
• Bladder and kidney cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Erectile dysfunction
• Male infertility

The team educates you about your condition, so you have a hand in choosing the best possible way to manage it. They suggest conservative treatments first and work their way up to surgical procedures if nonsurgical measures aren’t effective. 

How are urological conditions treated?

Treatment for urological conditions often starts with imaging procedures like CT scans, MRI scans, or ultrasound imaging. The team at Associated Surgical Center uses these techniques to view your urinary tract, the male reproductive tract, and all of the internal structures along the way. 

Once they know exactly what’s causing your symptoms, they select the appropriate treatment strategy for your condition. Some common treatments and procedures that urologists perform include:

Biopsies

Biopsies are diagnostic procedures. Your urologist might take a biopsy tissue sample from your bladder, prostate, or kidneys to test it for complications like cancer.

Sling procedure

A sling procedure is a treatment for urinary incontinence. Your urologist places mesh strips in your urethra to support it and keep it from leaking

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a treatment for men to stop them from getting women pregnant. Your urologist cuts the vas deferens, which is the tube that sperm travel through from your testicles to your urethra.

Kidney transplant

If your kidney is diseased and can no longer function properly, you might need to replace it with a kidney transplant from a healthy donor. 

For more information about urology and procedures within the specialty, call Associated Surgical Center, or book an appointment online today.