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what is a
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What is aUrologist?
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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
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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:
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