Urology

If something goes wrong with your urinary tract -- your body's system for getting rid of your pee -- you may need to see a special doctor called a urologist. They're experts who can treat problems that range from kidney stones to cancer.

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)

Why Would You See a Urologist?

A urologist might treat bladder problems, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder and kidney cancer, kidney blockage, and kidney stones.

Men might also see them for:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Enlarged prostate gland
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer

Women might also see a urologist for

• Problems holding your pee after pregnancy
• Pelvic organ prolapse (when an organ like the uterus or bladder starts to drop or press into or out of the vagina)

Children might need to see a urologist if they have an abnormal urinary tract problem like bedwetting.

When Should You See a Urologist?

In some cases, your regular doctor may be able to treat mild urinary tract problems. But if your symptoms are severe or don’t go away, you’ll need to see a urologist.

Some of the signs include:

• Blood in your urine
• Loss of bladder control
• Pain when you pee
• Pain in your lower back, stomach, or groin (which can mean kidney stones)
• Trouble having or keeping an erection
• Enlarged prostate
• Cancers of the urinary tract