What is urology?
What does a urologist do?
What are some of the common conditions that urologists treat?
What is urologic cancer?
Are there oral medications used for treating impotence?
Are there any non-surgical impotence treatments?
What are my options if non-surgical impotence treatments don’t work?
What kind of non-surgical therapies are available for men with impotence?
Is there anything new in the treatment of kidney stones?
What are the current screening guidelines for prostate cancer?

What is urology?

Answer:  Urology is a surgical specialty that addresses male and female diseases of the urinary tract, as well as male reproductive system disorders. Urology care, better known as urologic care, is the specialized branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats conditions within the urinary tract of males and females. It also treats conditions within the reproductive system in males.

A urologist is a doctor that has been specifically trained in the area of the urinary tract. The doctor will examine, diagnose and treat dysfunctions or diseases within the urinary system. 

Men, women, children, and humans of all genders will see a urologist for issues such as urinary tract infections, problems with the bladder or kidneys, and other conditions that affect the urinary system.

What does a urologist do?

Answer:  A urologist is a doctor that specializes in the urinary system. This type of doctor has extensive knowledge in the areas of the urinary system including the reproductive system, the kidneys, the bladder, and the tubes that carry fluids from one place to the next.

A urologist will do a thorough examination and follow up with blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, or other procedures to further identify issues and how to treat them.

What are some of the common conditions that urologists treat?

Answer:  Some of the more common disorders include impotence or erectile dysfunction; incontinence or loss of bladder control; kidney stones and other diseases of the kidney; infertility; and prostate diseases (both benign and malignant).

What is urologic cancer?

Answer: Urologic cancers are cancers that affect areas within the urinary system. Some of the more common urologic cancers are:

• Urinary tract cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer

Out of all these types of cancers, bladder cancer is the most common malignant type meaning that the cancer is more likely to spread and invade other organs. Most of these types of cancers are treatable and do not end up in death, however, any type of cancer is a major concern and needs medical attention.

Are there oral medications used for treating impotence?

Answer: Viagra®, Levitra®, and Cialis® are effective and safe oral agents for appropriate candidates. For example, men with a history of cardiovascular disease and especially men who are currently taking agents from the nitroglycerine family are not candidates for treatment with this class of drugs.

Are there any non-surgical impotence treatments?

Answer:  Yes. The vacuum constriction device is another excellent non-surgical treatment option. This system uses a plastic cylinder that is placed over the penis; a small pump is then used to create negative pressure, which acts to “pull” blood into the penis – producing an erection. A rubber band is then applied to the base of the penis, so that blood is trapped in the erect penis to sustain the erection until the band is removed.

What are my non-surgical options if impotence treatments don’t work?

Answer:  Penile implant surgery is always an option for men who aren’t happy with other treatments. We can do most penile implant procedures on an outpatient basis with a relatively short recovery period.

What kinds of non-surgical therapies are available for men with impotence?

Answer: Caverject® is one popular form of treatment. The therapy involves medication that is directly injected into the penis to produce an erection.

Is there anything new in the treatment of kidney stones?

Answer:  Most stones in either the kidney or the ureter (the tube that carries the urine from the kidney to the bladder) are now treated with a non-invasive shockwave technique called lithotripsy.

What are the current screening guidelines for prostate cancer?

Answer:  The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening for all men over the age of 50, including a digital rectal exam and a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. Men with a family history of prostate cancer should start yearly screenings between the ages of 40 and 45.