Treatment of diseases of the bladder, urethra, ureters, kidneys, adrenal glands, external genitalia, prostate gland is all that the urologist does.
If symptoms such as burning and pain during urination, frequent urges, blood in the urine, incontinence, colic in the lower back or other unpleasant sensations appear, the patient should consult a doctor.
Urology is a field of medicine that combines several borderline specializations. In modern medicine, the urologist is often a specialist in related disciplines – andrology, gynecology, pediatrics. By direction, urology is divided into male, female, child and geriatric (for elderly patients).
What does a urologist do
Male urology (andrology) specializes in the treatment of diseases such as male infertility, inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis), inflammation of the bladder, kidneys, urethra, urolithiasis, and also sexually transmitted infections (ureaplasmosis, genital herpes, mycoplasma, gardnerellosis), chlamydia, etc.).
Female urology (urogynecology) is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammation of the external and internal genital organs, bladder, kidneys, urethra, urolithiasis, as well as sexually transmitted diseases (mycoplasma, genital herpes, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, gardnerellosis, etc.).
In the competence of the pediatric urologist andrologist are diseases and malformations of the genitourinary system in children.
How is the examination of a urologist
The initial consultation begins with a medical history: the doctor interviews the patient about his complaints about well-being, gets acquainted with the medical history (all information about the treatment is entered on the patient’s medical record), and conducts a visual examination of the genitals.
Diagnosis of diseases of the genitourinary system is carried out using laboratory tests (various analyzes of urine, blood, prostate secretion, etc.), as well as endoscopic, instrumental and ultrasound methods.
- If the patient is a man, then the urologist should examine and evaluate the condition of the genital organ, scrotum, lymphatic inguinal nodes, prostate gland (performed by palpating through the anus). For preventive purposes, men over 40 are recommended to visit a urologist annually.
- If the patient is a woman, then the urologist examines on a gynecological chair. This is necessary for an objective assessment of the condition of the ureter and bladder, and also allows you to identify dry vagina or prolapse of organs (prolapse).
- If the patient is a child, then the urologist should conduct his examination only in the presence of parents. For preventive purposes, a visit to a pediatric urologist should be regular (at least once a year) from the first months of a child’s life. This will help to identify pathologies of the development of the genitourinary organs in the early stages and prevent complications.
When to go to the urologist
Urology deals with a whole range of diseases of the genitourinary system in both men and women. A somewhat erroneous opinion was formed about urologists as “male” doctors, mainly because it was they who until recently dealt with male health problems, and andrology was widely used relatively recently.
The question of visiting a urologist arises both for men and women. Moreover, a pediatric urologist is also present in the staff of a normally equipped children’s clinic.
When to go to the urologist for children
Urological diseases can accompany children from a very young age.
To the urologist of small patients lead about:
- cystitis – severe inflammation of the bladder in both boys and girls;
- phimosis – narrowing of the foreskin of the penis;
- balanitis or balanoposthitis – inflammatory processes in the glans penis;
- cryptorchidism – a pathology in which the testicle is underdeveloped or does not occupy a normal position in the scrotum. This can threaten irreparable sexual dysfunction in the future man;
- abnormalities and inflammatory processes in the genitals of girls.
A particularly common cause of treatment is urinary incontinence and urogenital injuries. Urological problems can not be triggered in any case, otherwise the child can be made unhappy for life. Any infection located in the organs of the genitourinary system has the property of spreading and smoothly taking on chronic forms.
When to go to the urologist as an adult
Adults can suffer from almost any of the above diseases and abnormalities, including cryptorchidism, if these problems were not resolved in childhood.
An adult must visit a urologist in case of:
- pain during urination;
- too frequent sensation of an overflowing bladder even with a small amount of accumulated urine;
- frequent recurring urination delays;
- turbid or sharply changed the color of urine, any extraneous discharge during urination;
- with suspected prostatitis;
- pain in the lower abdomen.
The last two symptoms may be accompanied by fever, general malaise, long-term loss of appetite, thirst. Then a visit to the urologist becomes simply urgent. You should also make an appointment with a urologist if there are any visible changes in the shape and condition of the genitals, impaired penile erection in men and, if necessary, circumcision of the foreskin. Such delicate problems can only be trusted by a specialist.
