What is urology?
Urology is a medical and surgical specialty that treats conditions of the urinary tract of both men and women (bladder, ureter, urethra). It also covers the male genital and reproductive system (prostate, penis, testicles).
When to see a urologist
You should first make an appointment to see your GP, who will refer you for a consultation with a urologist, notably if you are suffering from:
- Repeated urinary tract infections
- Bladder weakness
- Traces of blood in the urine
- Pain in the testicles
- Prostate dysfunctions or erectile dysfunction (intimate issues that can be discussed without taboo with a specialist).
The urologist also offers prostate cancer screening from the age of 50. Some paediatric urologists also specialise, for example, in treating abnormalities or enuresis (bed wetting).
What does a urological surgeon treat?
The urologist treats multiple conditions related to the urinary tract. For example:
- Urinary retention or incontinence
- Infections
- Lesions
- Abnormalities
- Urinary tract cancers.
The urological doctor also treats male infertility, erectile and ejaculatory disorders, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, etc. Although some conditions can be treated without resorting to surgery (e.g. nephritic colic that causes kidney stones), many urological diseases require an operation.
How are diagnoses and surgical procedures in urology carried out?
To make a diagnosis, the urologist will ask the patient about their symptoms and medical and family history before conducting a clinical examination. The urologist may also prescribe further tests such as a urine cytology exam, an echography, an endoscopy, an X-ray, a urodynamic check-up or a cystoscopy. Based on techniques that are today much less invasive (laparoscopy, ultrasound, hyperthermia, laser, etc.) thanks to the pioneering technologies used in Elsan’s private clinics, urological surgery has progressed considerably in recent years, and procedures are increasingly performed on an outpatient basis.