What is a Urologist

7/27/2019 What is a Urologist

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/what-is-a-urologist 1/8

what is a

?

1

What is aUrologist?



2

A urologist is a physician who

is trained to evaluate the

genitourinary tract, which includes the

kidneys, urinary bladder and genital

structures in men and women, and the

prostate and testicles in men.

he urologist has the knowledge and

technological resources to evaluate the unction

o these structures, the conditions and diseases

that can aect them and their normal operation

and the medical and surgical tools to optimizetheir unction, treat the conditions and diseases

o these organs and enhance an individual ’s

quality o lie. Since the conditions that eect

the genitourinary tract can aect men and

women o all ages as well as children, the

urologist has the opportunity to take care o the

entire population.

he American Urological Association

Foundation, Inc. has established six Advisory

Councils, comprised o experts in the various

subspecialty areas, to educate the public on

issues and problems involving the genitourinary

tract. In the ollowing, members o these

councils will describe urther what a urologist

is and what a urologist does in dealing with

conditions o the urinary tract and how

urologic subspecialities apply various tools

in diagnosing, assessing and treating theseconditions.



what is a

?

3

when should you

see a urologist?

he urologist unctions irst as a compassionate

physician who reviews the problem that hasbrought a patient or consultation. hese

problems, generally described as symptoms,

may involve:

• discomfortwhileurinating

• asenseofdifficultyincompletely emptying the bladder

• incontinence,alossofurinarycontrol

• hematuria,theappearanceof

blood in the urine

• thesensationofpainappearingtoberelatedto one o the structures o the urinary tract

• problemswithsexualfunction

• infertility,difficultiesinvolvedin

conceiving a child

Sometimes, a patient’s complaints may involve

indings that have been made incidentally

through X-rays or ultrasound studies in which

an abnormality in one o the urinary tract

structures was ound.

what is a

?



4

tests

In reviewing an individual’s symptoms, the

urologist may suggest possible causes (dierential

diagnosis), then proceed toa patient examination to determine some

o the ollowing:

• Ifthereareanyareasofdiscomfort(tender-

ness) in the abdomen, testicles or prostate—

discomort in the prostate is evaluated by a

digital rectal examination (DRE) in which a

lubricated gloved nger is inserted into the

rectum to eel or abnormalities.

• Ifthebladderisfullyemptiedafterthepatienturinates, to evaluate whether there is an

enlargement or swelling o the urinary tract

structures (kidneys, testicles or prostate).

• Ifthereislossofurinarycontrol.

Other tests may be important in ully evaluating

an individual’s symptoms or particular problem.

Te urologist will also examine the urine

(urinalysis) to determine whether there are

infammatory cells (suggesting the possible

presence o an inection) or blood in the urine

(hematuria), and to determine whether sugar or

protein are present, which may be associated with

diabetes, or conditions involving the kidneys.



what is a

?

5

Ater an exam, the urologist will determine i

imaging studies, such as ultrasound, computerized

axial tomography (CA) scanning, various nuclear

scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) areneeded to assess the integrity o the urinary tract

structures and any abnormality that may be present

(e.g. kidney stones, abnormal anatomy, cancer).

Blood tests are oten used to determine i an

inection or an obstructing kidney stone may haveaected normal kidney unction or whether an

infammatory condition or cancer o the prostate

has caused a rise in prostate-specic antigen (PSA).

Urine may be sent or culture to determine the

presence o inection, or or urinary cytology todetermine i there are any malignant cells in the

urine. Other tests include urodynamics (in which

the neurologic and muscular unction o urination

are evaluated), cystoscopy (in which the lining o

the bladder is examined) or evaluation o the quality

o semen and sperm.



6

treatments

On the basis o an overall evaluation o symptoms,

physical examination, tests and examinations,

recommendations on how to relieve symptoms or

address conditions or abnormalities may be made.

Tis treatment can involve medications, surgery

or simple observation since it is not uncommonthat time will allow resolution o some problem.

Furthermore, an understanding o what is causing

particular symptoms may permit an individual

to adjust to the problem; and an individual’s

own body may modiy the symptoms through

“behavioral modication.”



what is a

?

7

urological subspecialities

Te complexity o knowledge and rapid

development o technologies used to assess

and treat the conditions aecting the genito-

urinary tract have prompted the development o

subspecialities within urology. Tis allows the

urologist who is trained in all aspects o urology

to specialize urther, adding to the opportunity to evaluate and treat conditions and diseases that

relate specically to subspecialty areas. Tese

subspecialty areas lie under the broad umbrella

“general urology.”pediatric urology:

urologic conditions that aect children

urologic oncology:cancers o the kidney, bladder, prostate and testicle

renal transplantation:related to renal insufciency and end-stage

renal disease

male infertility:the diminished or absent ability or a male to conceive

calculi:urologic stone disease

female urology:conditions that pertain largely to normal urinary unc-

tion in women, urinary incontinence and pelvic outlet

relaxation disorders

neurourology:involves the normal neurologic and muscular control o

urinary unction, voiding disorders, urodynamic evaluation

o patient and erectile dysunction



To obtain multiple copies of this brochure or

others in our patient information library, please

call 410-689-3990.

Single copies of these booklets

are available free of charge

by calling or writing:

a u a

F, i.

1000 c b., s 410l, md 21090

t-f : 1-800-828-7866

c 2005. a .

Supported by a grant from:

The American Urological Association

Foundation, Inc. (formerly the American Foun-

dation for Urologic Disease, Inc.) is a chari-

table organization established to raise funds for

research, lay education and patient advocacyfor the prevention, detection, management and

cure of urologic diseases.

The American Urological Association Founda-

tion provides this information based on current

medical and scientific knowledge. This informa-

tion is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute

for professional medical advice. It is not to be

used or relied on for that purpose. Please see your

urologist or other health care provider regarding

any health concerns and always consult a health

care professional before you start or stop any

treatments, including medications.

visit us on line at:

.f.

.uh.

Documents

What is a Urologist