Urology content covers the medical and surgical specialty concerned with the urinary tract of both males and females and the male reproductive system. It includes information on conditions like kidney stones, incontinence, and cancer, as well as the various treatments and procedures a urologist may perform, such as surgery, endoscopy, and office-based procedures like prostate biopsies. This field aims to educate the public on urological problems, their diagnosis, and prevention to promote earlier treatment.
Key areas of urology
- Urinary tract: Diseases and conditions affecting the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
- Male reproductive system: Issues related to the prostate, testes, and penis.
- Common conditions:
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)
- Incontinence
- Infertility
- Prostate issues like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Cancers of the bladder, prostate, and kidneys
- Specialized areas:
- Neurourology: Deals with voiding disorders and neuro-related urological problems.
- Uro-oncology: Focuses on genitourinary cancers.
What a urologist does
- Diagnoses and treats a wide range of medical and surgical disorders.
- Performs office procedures, such as prostate biopsies and cystoscopies.
- Performs major surgical procedures like nephrectomy (kidney removal) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- Provides primary care for many patients with conditions like prostate disease and kidney stones.
Consult a urologist: The best way to get personalized information and treatment is through a professional.
Use reliable sources: Organizations like the American Urological Association, British Association of Urological Surgeons, and the Urology Care Foundation offer patient-focused information.
For medical professionals: Professional journals like the Journal of Urology and Urology® provide in-depth research and guidelines
Urology is one of the most varied branches of surgery and encompasses diseases of kidneys, bladder and prostate, including incontinence, impotence, infertility, cancer and reconstruction of the genito-urinary tract. It caters for patients of both sexes and all ages, from newborn infants to elderly pensioners.
Over the last 20 years, urology has proved itself to be one of the most innovative surgical specialties. Urologists still use traditional surgical methods, but they have also pioneered modern, high-tech, fibreoptic and endoscopic techniques (sometimes called minimally-invasive surgery). We were one of the first specialties to use “keyhole” surgery routinely, and to use robotic assistance for complex surgery; we still retain the most comprehensive array of minimally-invasive techniques for patients.
One quarter (25%) of all surgical referrals to hospital are for urological conditions, and urology makes up one tenth (10%) of GP consultations. Hospital referrals for urological problems have increased by one fifth (20%) over recent years. However, only 1 in 8 to 1 in 10 patients (10 to 12%) actually need surgery to treat their condition; put another way, this means that approximately nine out of 10 (90%) patients referred to a urologist do not need surgery, and can be managed medically.
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Paediatric (Children’s) Urology
Stone Patient Advisory Group
urology, medical specialty involving the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the urinary tract and of the male reproductive organs. (The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra.)
The modern specialty derives directly from the medieval lithologists, who were itinerant healers specializing in the surgical removal of bladder stones. In 1588 the Spanish surgeon Francisco Diaz wrote the first treatises on diseases of the bladder, kidneys, and urethra; he is generally regarded as the founder of modern urology. Most modern urologic procedures developed during the 19th century. At that time flexible catheters were developed for examining and draining the bladder, and in 1877 the German urologist Max Nitze developed the cystoscope. The cystoscope is a tubelike viewing instrument equipped with an electric light on its end. By introducing the instrument through the urethra, the urologist is able to view the interior of the bladder. The first decades of the early 20th century witnessed the introduction of various X-ray techniques that have proved extremely useful in diagnosing disorders of the urinary tract. Urologic surgery was largely confined to the removal of bladder stones until the German surgeon Gustav Simon in 1869 demonstrated that human patients could survive the removal of one kidney, provided the remaining kidney was healthy.Related Topics: renal systemmedicinecreatinine clearancerenal systemlithology
Most of the modern urologist’s patients are male, for two reasons: (1) the urinary tract in females may be treated by gynecologists, and (2) much of the urologist’s work has to do with the prostate gland, which encircles the male urethra close to the juncture between the urethra and the bladder. The prostate gland is often the site of cancer; even more frequently, it enlarges in middle or old age and encroaches on the urethra, causing partial or complete obstruction of the flow of urine. The urologist treats prostate enlargement either by totally excising the prostate or by reaming a wider passageway through it. Urologists may also operate to remove stones that have formed in the urinary tract, and they may perform operations to remove cancers of the kidneys, bladder, and testicles.