Urology
Urology is a part of health care that deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra). It also deals with the male organs that are able to make babies (penis, testes, scrotum, prostate, etc.). Since health problems in these body parts can happen to everyone, urologic health is important.
Urology is known as a surgical specialty. Besides surgery, a urologist is a doctor with wisdom of internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology and other parts of health care. This is because a urologist encounters a wide range of clinical problems. The scope of urology is big and the American Urological Association has named seven subspecialty parts:
- Pediatric Urology (children’s urology)
- Urologic Oncology (urologic cancers)
- Renal (kidney) Transplant
- Male Infertility
- Calculi (urinary tract stones)
- Female Urology
- Neurourology (nervous system control of genitourinary organs)
Reasons you might see a Urologist
You may make an appointment if you have:
- Trouble urinating (peeing), including getting started or having a strong flow of urine, pain, cloudy urine or blood in the urine.
- Changes in urination, like frequent urination or feeling like you always have to go.
- Trouble getting or keeping an erection.
- Infertility.
- A feeling that something is falling down into your vagina or heaviness in that area.
- Pelvic pain.
- Urinating when you don’t want to, like at night or when you sneeze, laugh or exercise.
