Urology
A urologist is a medical specialist who undergoes training in diseases of the male and female urinary systems, as well as the male reproductive system. Due to the variety of clinical problems encountered, urologists must have a wide range of knowledge regarding internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics and other specialties. Urologists are also trained as surgeons, and offer patients surgical options for many urologic health conditions. In order to be certified by the American Board of Urology, urologists must fulfill specified educational and examination requirements.
While they often collaborate on patient care, a urologist is different than a nephrologist. Nephrology is a separate field of medicine that specifically focuses on kidney function and disease. While a urologist treats patients for kidney stones or kidney cancer – offering surgical options, a nephrologist treats patients who have diabetes. Nephrology is a non-surgical field, which mean that nephrologists are not surgeons.
What conditions do urologists treat?
Urologists treat common conditions and rarer illnesses that affect everyone and some that affect only men or only women. Some of these conditions include:- Frequent urinary tract infections.
- Inability to control urination (urinary incontinence).
- Blood in the urine (hematuria).
- Conditions of the male reproductive system, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate).
- Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder).
- Cancers of the bladder, kidneys and prostate.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED).
- Kidney stones.
- Pelvic organ prolapse.
- Congenital urinary tract issues (problems with the urinary tract that you are born with).
Urologists also treat other conditions, such as: